STATE CHAMPION - Athea Valenzuela

DRHS Senior Athea Valenzuela earned the title of State Champion this past Winter Season on the Wrestling Mat. We caught up with her and asked her a few questions:

What role did your coaches play?

My club coach LC and my dad, David Valenzuela, were my coaches since I was little and just knowing that they have always believed in me and did everything they could to push me to succeed. My coaches at Desert Ridge specifically Coach Jackson took me in my junior year after transferring from Basha Highschool and helped me reach my goal to win state.

What is the best piece of advice a coach ever gave you?

Your sport does not define who you are.

Has this success changed your future goals or how you see yourself?

Not really, I always knew I could win state but kept falling short in the finals so being able to accomplish this goal was like a weight life off my shoulders because my goals have always been higher and this was just the first step.

What would you tell your freshman self or incoming freshman?

I would probably tell my freshman self to listen to the people that care about you, never take anything for granted and that the results will eventually show.