Woodlands 12th grader Gissella Polit has two favorite wrestling moves: snap downs and gator rolls. “Once you get them on their back, it’s hard to come back,” she said. Gissella took up wrestling just last year after being inspired by family and friends, and it wasn’t long before it was clear that she had all the right moves. “I got my first pin after two months competing in boys’ folk-style wrestling matches,” she shared.
While she’s comfortable competing with boys, the chance to wrestle in an all-girl freestyle league l was too hard to resist. “This is the first year NYSPHSAA supported an all-girl wrestling championship competition,” said Gissella. “It was exciting to take advantage of this opportunity.”
In her short time participating in the sport, Gissella has learned the secret to a win comes down to three central traits: determination, perseverance, and measured control. This mindset can be attributed to the success achieved in her competition debut. A couple of weeks ago, Gissella made it to the finals after placing second in the New York State sectionals. “I didn’t win in the finals, but it felt great just to qualify,” she said. Accolades aside, Gissella’s pull towards the sport speaks to the community around it. “Wrestling is a small community in our area,” she said. “This experience has led to building friendships and relationships with students at other schools that I might not have been able to do otherwise.”
With college on the horizon for this Woodlands senior, Gissella shared that she plans to continue wrestling and, off the mat, study political science and law. “Wrestling helps me to be stronger both mentally and physically,” she said. “It challenges me and keeps me in the moment.”