Makayla Power is a sophomore and a powerhouse on the wrestling mat. She is driven, hard-working, and tough. Wrestling is a hard sport, but she’s proven her skills by winning southern Nevada State Regionals this year. Many high schools came from all over Nevada to compete with each other and test their skills. There were about 11 brackets, with a total of 16 girls in Power’s bracket, and a lot of different weight classes. Power placed in the 130 pound weight group.
Power had four rounds in her tournament in which she beat all four of her opponents to get to the championship. In her very first round she pinned her opponent in 1:57 seconds, and in the second round Power won by pin as well in 4:26 seconds. Then in the third round she won by DEC, or decision, with a score of 9-3. Lastly, in the fourth and final round she pinned her opponent again in 2:40 seconds. DEC means that the wrestler won by points and outscored the other wrestler instead of winning by pinning them.
Power worked as hard as she could in every match, but there were some rounds that were definitely harder than others.
“The girl I wrestled in my third match was probably my hardest opponent,” Power says. “I’ve wrestled that girl before, and she’s beaten me, so I knew I had to get out of my head and just focus on her, and I ended up pulling myself together and composing myself enough to beat her.”
In wrestling, there are many ways to win, which include pinning, forfeit, decision, disqualification, and injury. To win by pinning, or falling, one wrestler must hold their opponent’s shoulders on the mat for a certain amount of time. This ends the match immediately, no matter when it happens. To win by decision, the wrestler must score more points than their opponent by performing legal moves such as throws, takedowns, and reversals. Different moves are worth different amounts of points based on the difficulty of the skill.
Power’s big win was a big accomplishment for her, and she felt that she has improved and grown in her sport.
“I felt very accomplished,” Power comments. “I was able to stay calm under pressure because my teammates and coach were cheering me on.”
Power loves her sport and has been wrestling since her freshman year. She trains every day except for Sunday for three hours, which includes running two miles every practice and working on drills. Her favorite competition so far has been Regionals because it was her best tournament.
Power really loves her teammates and Coach Mckee because they help a lot during her matches. Her coach helps her see openings that she can’t see herself, and her teammates are always complementary, supportive, and motivating.
Sophomore Carmen Loo is both Power’s teammate and friend, and she appreciates everything that Power has taught her.
“Makayla pushes me to be a better wrestler every practice, warmup, and match,” Loo says. “Her work ethic and determination really inspires me on and off the mat. She is an amazing wrestler and an amazing friend.”
