By Brenda De La Cruz
Mýa Crespo-Negrete, 20, grew up with wrestling in her blood and has had a chance to wrestle at ELAC.
Crespo-Negrete’s father was a wrestler growing up, as was her uncle.
She started wrestling at the age of four thanks to her father. She also played centerfield in softball.
She remembers being good at softball but decided to pursue wrestling instead because she really loved it.
While wrestling in high school she was the only girl for the first few years.
She recalls being limited at first in regards to events due to being the only female on the team.
Being a part of wrestling at ELAC made her disillusioned at first. She could not wrestle at a collegiate level as she always wanted. She was part of the club, but not as a competitor
Crespo-Negrete said freestyle wrestling is the only style of wrestling women are allowed to participate in.
Her favorite, however, is Greco-Roman wrestling, This style consists of all upper body and slams, but women are not allowed to do this due to safety concerns.
Greco-Roman wrestling was her father’s favorite style as well.
She quotes Dan Gable, an American former folk style and freestyle wrestler and coach when talking about wrestling.
“Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.”
Gable is a two-time NCAA Division I National Champion.
Crespo-Negrete confirms this sport does make you tougher.
During her time at ELAC, she has lost her grandparents to COVID, but says wrestling kept her going.
This is her final semester, and although she has had some offers for continuing her education, she is contemplating staying at ELAC in order to find a University in California in order to continue wrestling.
She coaches wrestling for children from ages four through high school, and also dabbles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.