Serah Yogi '26 Recruiting Profile

I remember that day when little 10 year old me sat on the edge of the chair, gleaming at the TV screen streaming the Hawaii state finals. I watched as the skilled lightweight wrestlers swiftly executed their moves and scrambled out of positions I've never seen before. Then the whistle blew, and the girl bursted up with tears of joy. I told myself, “I want to be there one day. I want to be a state champ.” In the moment I thought this dream would come easy, but as time passed I began to look at myself and accept reality. I was thrown into the sport at 6 years old, as a shy girl born with no athletic abilities. There were a few seasons where I was so light that I had to wrestle the same girl twice every tournament. Not once did I ever score a single point, or last three periods without being pinned or teched. I never took wrestling seriously. I never thought I would ever become successful. 

But it was something about the sport that kept me moving in the right direction. Over time I began to find moments of success and achievement. I also found myself experiencing the lows of falling just short of my dreams. It took me nearly 10 years to finally realize that wrestling isn't just about the wins and loses. Only now as I reflect on how wrestling changed my life, it  opened my eyes to see how it transformed me not only on the mat but also as a person. That's when I truly fell in love with the sport.

An important lesson I learned from wrestling is balance. I value the importance of equally balancing school, sports, family, and faith. This has helped me to maintain a 4.143 GPA while keeping a close relationship with my family and God. This has allowed me to fully commit to wrestling while keeping my eyes on the bigger picture.

I also learned how to stay calm under pressure. I’ve been in many stressful matches whether it be the state finals, against defending state champs, or against all those girls who beat me before. Though it took a while, I learned to channel my nerves into focus and motivation. Being captain of the air riflery team also played a big role in getting my nerves under control, where it could cost us a state title.

Another gift from wrestling is the joy of giving back. I've been incredibly blessed with coaches and teammates who have poured their time and energy into helping me succeed. Now, I strive to give back to the wrestling community as well. Since my wrestling club only goes up to 8th grade, I now go to coach all the little ones. I also enjoy the opportunity to be a referee and awards announcer at youth tournaments. At the high school, I recently became one of the team captains. I take on this role mainly by leading by example and striving to be the hardest worker on the mat.

The most important thing I learned is how to adapt to setbacks. At the start of freshman year, my weight was stuck at 84 pounds, forcing me to wrestle girls more than 10 pounds heavier. Another challenge I faced sophomore year was a nagging shoulder injury from a practice early in the season. Unfortunately, I was unable to bear with it when states arrived, and forfeited out of the tournament. I used these setbacks not as excuses, but as learning experiences that—by forcing me to change my style and learn new things—helped my wrestling to evolve.

I wish I could go back in time and show the younger me how far I’ve come. That same shy girl who was scared of everything and was unwilling to take chances. Now because of wrestling, I can step onto the mat with confidence, knowing that win or lose, I will give everything I have. Wrestling has transformed me into someone who embraces challenges, values growth, and stays humble—not just for myself, but for those around me. I may not be the best, but I promise I will always strive to be a better person each day. As college approaches, I'm eager to bring the lessons wrestling has taught me into a new chapter of life. I am beyond grateful for this journey and excited to see where it will take me next. :)