KILLEEN, Texas — Inside Chaparral High School's state of the art wrestling room, there is one athlete leaving her mark in school history. Ava Milliner became this year's 5A girls wrestling 126-pound state champion.
"It was really fun when I made it to the finals. They did the walk of champions and I was kinda nervous out there, said sophomore wrestler, Milliner. "But seeing all the lights and the people there was really cool. When I won I was really excited and I was proud of myself that I finally made it to first place."
After three intense matches, the guidance of her coach and trust in herself led Ava to take down her very last rival, Frisco Centennial's Jordyn Parker, to become her school's first-ever UIL athletic state champion.
"I kept thinking that nothing is promised but I just had to keep working step by step all the way up to first," said Milliner.
"In that moment, I was so happy and so relieved for her. I know she wanted it really, really bad, said Kierra Boyce, Chaparral's wrestling coach. "She put in the work not only on the mat floor, but also the kitchen. With wrestling being a weight restricted sport, she managed her diet the day before."
Ever since stepping foot on a mat for the first time at the age of seven, Ava has never been afraid to take down her opponents, whether it is a girl or a boy.
"I like the challenge, like the physical challenge and the mental challenge of trying to beat like the mental and physical match before the actual match," said Milliner.
What once seemed like an intimidating sport for girls has now become the fastest growing high school sport in the country.
"With more girls being able to wrestle they're starting sooner, with them starting sooner, their skill level is looking so far advanced that they get to these high level matches, said Coach Boyce. "It's not even an uncommon thing in this day and age that high school girls are beating some of the college girls."
"It makes me feel happy it's growing because now brackets are growing and more good wrestlers are coming in. I think girls are first scared to try it because they thought it was a boys sport but I'm glad more people are coming in and trying it out," said Milliner.
The future is bright for girls wrestling and it is certainly so for Ava. She has some major goals ahead including becoming a three-time state champion and making it to the Olympics.
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