In a town where football and basketball dominate the sports scene, one girl is determined to break barriers and change that perception. Meet Amani Reed, a Penn High School sophomore who has become a trailblazer in girl’s wrestling.
Wrestling is not her only sport; she also enjoys cheerleading and powderpuff. With a fierce spirit and an unwavering commitment, Reed has made a name for herself and inspired many other girls.
At just 15 years old, she’s making waves in a sport that demands both physical prowess and mental tenacity: wrestling. From the moment she stepped onto the mat, Reed knew she had found her calling, and her journey was nothing short of inspiring.
Reed’s interest in wrestling began in middle school when she attended a school practice with a few people she knew. The intensity, the strategy, and the sheer determination of the athletes captivated her. She decided then and there that she wanted to be a part of that world.
Despite the initial skepticism, Reed managed to stay undeterred. She wrestled throughout middle school and as a freshman, she quickly proved she was a force to be reckoned with.
Balancing academics and athletics is no easy feat, but Reed handles it gracefully and determinedly. Her typical day starts when she wakes up from school and gets ready for the day, she puts her hair in a ponytail and gets dressed for the day. She then goes to school to attend her classes, after which she gets ready for practice and mentally and physically prepares.
“Wrestling is all about the discipline of going to practice and knowing that you’re bettering yourself, that’s what makes you a champion,” Reed explains.
Reed’s dedication has paid off. She’s already earned several medals in state competitions and nationals, aiming for first place in state championships. Her coach Brad Harper describes this upcoming season for her.
“She’s gonna fire up and dominate is what she’s going to do. I’m excited for her, she’s got a lot of awesome energy and she is she’s a lot stronger and more experienced, so it’s gonna be an exciting year for her.”
But Reed’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Wrestling is a male-dominated sport, and she’s had to face adversity.
“People always like to expect the worst of you and they wanna be who they want you to be sad they want you to be who they already have set an opinion on you,” she recalls. “But you just you just gotta keep working on yourself and prove to them that you don’t need to and that you can be better than who they think you’re meant to be.”
Her mother has been her biggest supporter, attending every match she can and cheering her on from the sidelines of the mat.
“I’d say my mom is a big supporter. She can’t always be there for us, but she will, like, whenever she’s home, she’ll drive us to tournament,” she recalled. “She’ll pay for tournaments. She gets us new singlets, she gets us new shoes, like, we don’t even have to ask for some of this stuff and my mom’s very big on supporting us and she has been our entire lives.”
Reed’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of following one’s passion. She hopes to inspire other young girls just like her to take up wrestling and not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone.
As she continues her high school wrestling career, Reed has her sights set on even bigger goals. She hopes to wrestle at collegiate levels and maybe even compete in the Olympics one day. With her unyielding spirit and relentless drive, there’s no doubt that Amani Reed will continue to rise, both on and off the mat.
