Roth Powers '24 Recruiting Profile

My deep desire and unwavering commitment is to pursue a higher education and develop as a wrestler. My decisions both academically and through sport have forged a passion to always be better today than I was yesterday. This passion has created a great feeling of pride and duty both for Alaska and the country. I have always strived my hardest to surround myself with the people I know will better me, academically, mentally, and physically so that I can one day serve this great country with the best.

Throughout my education I have eagerly sought to immerse myself in the best education and to take advantage of academic opportunities. One such opportunity has been ANSEP (Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program), which is a program that allows high school students., like myself, the opportunity to take college classes in place of High School classes. Since the age of fourteen, I have received all my education from the University of Alaska Anchorage. My educational journey up to this point has been trying to get ahead scholastically but more importantly to surround myself with the brightest minds I could find all while getting a major jumpstart on my collegiate career.

Beyond the academic realm, there is the mat. I may not be the most talented or decorated wrestler but I make up for that “lack” of talent with hard work, grit, and persistence. To do justice to my wrestling story thus far I feel I need to start at the beginning. I have been wrestling for as long as I can remember (my mom would probably tell you first grade).  I sucked. I was awful! I remember going to tournaments when I was little, promptly losing two matches and heading home. But I stuck with it. As a freshman I made it to state! I was making progress. My wrestling world was evolving. My attitude and mental focus shifted because of the little bit of success I had that season. It left me with a drive to really get better. Since that time, I have been training with the best kids in the state of Alaska and with the best coach year-round. I have seized all the out-of-state wrestling opportunities including Western Regions and Fargo national tournaments. All this work is beginning to pay off. My Junior season I was honored to be chosen as a team captain and even more thrilled to lead the team to a state title. I placed third at the same tournament, a best showing for me thus far. I also placed second at Western Regions last summer in the Cadet age division and fourth this summer in the Junior age division. But for me, wrestling is not about the medals or trophies, it’s about the mentality that it has given me for the rest of my life - It’s about the opportunity to be part of a team of similarly minded, hardworking, and talented individuals. One of the important lessons that I have taken from wrestling is the best way to learn something is to teach it and that is why I volunteer to coach the youth practices at Avalanche Wrestling Association. I find it extremely rewarding to help coach those same kids on the weekends at the local tournaments and see their progression as wrestlers. I enjoy being able to give back and help the same way wrestlers have before me.

Looking ahead I am excited to continue in both my academic and athletic careers. I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities I have been able to seize and look forward to new opportunities with your program. I am looking forward to surrounding myself with the best people possible to pursue my academic and athletic goals.