By Mike Clark
Jasmine Mejia’s wrestling time is over, at least for now.
The Rickover senior is headed to NAIA member Spring Arbor’s track and field team as a thrower. She’s been a multisport athlete in high school, and a successful one, with a pair of state wrestling medals.
Mejia won the latest medal on Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena when she took second at 235 pounds, falling 6-0 to unbeaten two-time champ Chloe Hoselton of Prairie Central.
“It’s really sad, I mean bittersweet,” Mejia said. “I really love wrestling. I think in a couple years, I’ll probably come back as a coach, especially for the girls teams.
I love the way they’ve been growing.”
This final stretch has been an emotional time for Mejia (39-2), who also earned a fifth-place medal at 235 in 2023.
“I’ve been crying after every single match, because it’s over,” she said. “It’s a lot, and I’m an emotional person. I cry a lot. So that’s not abnormal.”
Mejia had a big group of fans at state, also not an unusual occurrence.
“I’m a social butterfly, so I make friends with a bunch of people,” she said. “They end up cheering (for) me. My relatives from Indiana are visiting, and the girls on our team have been amazing.”
She also has shared the journey with her father Guillermo. who is Rickover’s athletic director and one of the Sea Dragons’ wrestling coaches.
“He knows me super well,” Mejia said. “So if I need a talking to before a match, like, ‘Get out of your head,’ he’s always there.
“And it’s just been super great to have him on the team. Before my matches, I go kind of non-verbal. I’m just locked in, getting ready. So he knows what I need.
“Also earning her second medal was Phoenix senior AJ Grant (45-5), who took fifth at 145. She was third at the same weight last season.
“It’s a good feeling,” she said. “I can’t really complain. I placed. Most people didn’t even get to do that.”
Grant hopes to continue her career in college, but hasn’t picked a school yet.
Also finishing on the awards stand were Lane senior Nyah Lovis (46-7), who was fourth at 135, and Kelly sophomore Sara Martinez Lopera, who took fourth at 170.
Lovis is Lane’s second state placer, while Martinez Lopera is Kelly’s first.
“I’m honestly speechless,” Lovis said. “I can’t believe (it). It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time. …”I definitely had my ups and downs over the years. But (I) just appreciate all my hard effort and then finally achieving my goal of being on the podium — especially after our first placer Noemi (Marchan, who was fifth at 140 in 2022) — was really inspiring.”
Martinez Lopera moved to Chicago from Colombia two years ago and has had some success in freestyle competition, but this was her best showing in folkstyle.
“I’m very proud,” she said. “This is a really big challenge for me, but I need (to) keep practicing.”
The state atmosphere, with six mats going simultaneously in a big arena, was a lot to take in.
“I was nervous, I was excited,” Martinez Lopera said. “Too (many) things passed through my mind, but I was with God and I prayed. … And if God wanted things like that, I’m happy with that.”
