This year is the inaugural season of the Vestavia Hills High School girls wrestling team. One girl in particular became the face of the team: Christiana Belcher. Just like everyone on the team, this was Christiana’s first year of wrestling. However, she did have some exposure to this sport beforehand. Christiana’s older brother, Michael Belcher (graduated 2022), was on the boys wrestling team all throughout his high school career. This gave Christiana the opportunity to pick up skills, rules, and tactics. She also has a younger brother, Chase Belcher (freshman), who is on the boys wrestling team.
Christiana was inspired to start wrestling because of her two brothers, and because it was a sport that she could use her strength to her advantage. During this season, win by win, Christiana made her way up to the state championship. I asked her, “How did you prepare for the state championship?” and Christiana told me that she would practice two to three times a day, depending on what was going on. She had to fuel her body well to give her the energy needed for practices and matches. She also went to the gym during the entire season to train in order to become the strongest she could be. The week before the state championship, Christiana Belcher went against the #2 female wrestler in the state—and she won.
I then asked Christiana, “What were your thoughts when stepping onto that mat during the state championship?” and she told me, “I was very nervous and mad… I always am no matter who I'm wrestling with. I get myself mad before every match to help me do better and be more aggressive.”
The day of the state championship, Christiana went against the #2 wrestler in the state. She lost to her and the #1 in the state. However, she is now placed #3 in Alabama. And with this being her first year, imagine what she will accomplish in the years to come. Christiana ended the season 27-2.
I asked Christiana a few more questions. I first asked her, “What's it like being a female wrestler?” and she said, “It's fun, I have to push myself harder than everyone at practice just for the fact that I’m a girl. People used to say things and start rumors about me wrestling and why I did it, but throughout the season as I kept winning, I gained people's respect. I’ve played about every sport except hockey, baseball, track, and cross country. Wrestling is one of the hardest but most fun sports. It challenges you physically and mentally which is why I love it so much. It makes me push myself everyday to be the best I can.” And lastly, I asked if she wanted to continue wrestling in the future and if there was anything else she would like to say about wrestling. She stated, “I want to continue with wrestling or flag football in college, and wrestling is by far the best sport, and every girl should come and do it.”
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