When you hear the word wrestling, what comes to mind? Most people would think of men battling it out on the mat, trying to get the most points by taking down their opponent. Not many people would think of a girl wrestling, not just a girl, but a state champion with over a hundred wins to very few losses. This girl is Vina Nguyen.
Junior, Vina Nguyen on February 20th, became the Wrestling State Champion for the 2024-2025 4A 100 lbs category. Before becoming a champion though, she had no prior wrestling experience.
“I started wrestling my freshman year as a way to challenge myself to do something new outside my comfort zone. I wanted to push myself both physically and mentally. I joined the team to find a community within Hazen, and thanks to my cousin Jay for inspiring me to stay.”
Once she started wrestling, Vina knew that she was already pretty good, as she started out 9-0 in her very first year on the team. That same season, Vina qualified for state in her first-ever year wrestling. This already was a huge accomplishment. Unfortunately, Vina lost her first two matches, meaning she wouldn’t be able to move on in the state.
In her second year, Vina had a chip on her shoulder. She wanted to make it back to state and win it all. Before state, Vina had a record of 37-11, again qualifying for state. She got to state and did pretty well. Unfortunately, she didn’t win but still ended up placing third. Going into her junior year, it was now or never for Vina. “Coming into this season, I had the mindset that I was going to win, I trusted all the work I put in the offseason, and I knew that there was not a chance that the state title was going to someone else.”
Vina was not lying when she said she had put in the work during the offseason before stating her record: 38-1, only losing one match. Going into state, Vina had to compete in three matches before the final. In one of these matches, she had a bye, meaning she didn’t have to play anyone. In the quarter-finals, she completely dominated her opponent, pinning her in only 38 seconds. She continued this dominance in the semi-finals, pinning her opponent in 1 minute and 38 seconds, propelling her into the finals.
“I was sad but proud at the same time, I had to wrestle my practice partner, Ula Young, in order to advance into the finals. After the match, it all hit me: that was the last time we’d ever compete against each other. But I was proud that I advanced to the next round being a state finalist.”
Going into finals, there was nothing but composure from Vina, a mentality that couldn’t be matched, she had already made up her mind, she was going to win.
“I had already beaten this girl before, but I knew that my train of thought and mentality at that moment was way better than hers.” It was a battle, but in the end, Vina pinned her opponent three minutes in, crowning her as a state champion. “I was in disbelief, overwhelmed, and hysterical all at the same time.”
All the hours of hard work Vina put in paid off, being easily shown by this supreme performance, it was all worth it. But lots of people want to know, what is her goal now? She already won it all, what more can she win? Vina’s next mountain is to try and become a 4A 100 lbs National Champion in her category. She is competing this summer and has very high hopes for winning it all. Her preparation will be hard, but Vina knows firsthand that hard work pays off. “I will continue working with the Washington National team and showing up to camps and outings in preparation for Nationals.”
Everyone at HaTzen is cheering for Vina to go make history and prove all of the doubters wrong.
