Down by one point heading into the third period of the state championship match, Isabel Anaya, wearing the red ankle band, found herself in an improbable position. Before the start of the third, she looked at the referee and pointed down, signaling her choice to start in the bottom position. If she could escape, she’d earn one point and tie the match.
The whistle blew, and Anaya exploded off the line, escaping in eight seconds with a fast standup. But she wasn’t satisfied with just tying the match. Immediately after getting to her feet, she shot for a single leg and got it. Now up by three points, all she had to do was hold her opponent down for the remaining 1:30 to secure the win.
With just 30 seconds left, Anaya locked in a cradle, her favorite move. She tilted her opponent to her back the crowd could hear the referee’s count echoing from the stands: “One… two… three… four…” It was over. Up by 7 points with 10 seconds remaining, Anaya let her opponent up and celebrated with her coaches.
With that, Isabel Anaya completed her undefeated season and became the state champion.
Anaya, who started wrestling as a child, always reached for the stars, determined to be the best at what she did. She was driven to stand out, often attending two practices a day—one for her high school and the other in Grand Rapids. The long trips and exhausting effort took their toll, but ultimately, they brought her closer to her goal which she would later fulfill.
Younger brother Abel Anaya said, “I knew this day would come ever since she started wrestling. I could see all the effort she put in year-round, with some days starting as early as five in the morning just to attend an early practice.” His words reflect the intense dedication Isabel demonstrated in her pursuit of greatness. This commitment was not just about physical strength but the mental toughness required to push herself every single day. Isabel’s unstoppable determination and hard work were key factors in her historic achievement, as she became the first wrestler in nearly two decades to secure a state championship for West Ottawa. Her relentless effort, combined with countless early mornings and sacrifices, ultimately paid off in a way that will inspire future generations of athletes at West Ottawa for years to come.
The journey started by chance, said Mother Jenny Anaya. “One morning, I saw a flyer outside that read, ‘Sign up for wrestling.’ Isabel, who was with me, thought it sounded fun and like a good idea. Without thinking much of it, I pulled out my phone and signed her up.
The next day, I took her to the practice location, unaware that this very room would become the place where she would train throughout her high school career. I still remember the first words she said after that first practice: ‘I love it”.
A couple of weeks later, Coach Ryan Lancaster, the Youth Panthers coach who led the practices, had an opportunity for the kids, so he called a parents’ meeting. Jenny brought Isabel, and during the meeting, he mentioned an upcoming wrestling tournament. I thought it was too soon to enter Isabel, since it was only her third week of wrestling, but she insisted that I sign her up. After a few more practices, the day before her first tournament arrived. Isabel made sure to go to sleep early, and I asked her one last time, “Are you sure you want to do this?” She immediately said yes, and that’s when I knew she was fully committed.
I still wasn’t thrilled about her wrestling against boys, but she did an amazing job, going 2-2 in the tournament and showing great progress. It was a learning experience for her, and that day, I knew my little girl had what it took to be a state champion. Watching her compete and truly love the sport made it clear to me that she was on the right path.”
Anaya will continue her academic and wrestling career at Manchester University, aiming to become the first girl from WO to wrestle at the collegiate level.
