Mia Nevarez: Fresh Start Brings New Energy to the Mat

East’s Athlete of the Week recognition comes just as the Women’s Wrestling SPC Championships approach. Freshman standout, Mia Nevarez, was recognized by her coach, Bryan DeBendetti for embodying the E.A.S.T values: Excellence, Academics, Spirit, and Tradition.

Starting in 6th grade, Nevarez has been all in on improving her wrestling skills, joining a club team just one year later to go the extra mile. The 24-25 season is East’s first year of the women’s wrestling program and Nevarez is making strong strides to make it a success.

Head women’s wrestling coach, Bryan DeBendetti admires her team spirit and dedication to working hard on the mat, describing her commitment to better herself and her teammates.

“Mia is always one of the first athletes in the wrestling room and is always asking questions about how she can improve her performance,” DeBendetti said. “Mia is always on the edge of the mat cheering her teammates on and takes the initiative to help her teammates with drills or technique.”

Besides her desire to grow as an athlete, Nevarez focuses her time on academics and manages her time effectively.

“Mia is a great student who uses her time wisely before practice,” DeBendetti said. “She arrives early and uses the time before practice to do any assignments she has.”

The challenges throughout the wrestling season allowed Nevarez to push herself beyond her comfort zone, learning valuable lessons through adversity.

“I like how wrestling has pushed me in every way, physically and skill-wise. I learned to put myself out there and to stick up for myself,” Nevarez said.

Beyond the physical and mental challenges, Nevarez gives a lot of credit to her coaches and teammates for their constant encouragement and support. She acknowledges that their belief in her has highly impacted her growth.

“The community is unlike any other,” Nevarez said. “I really do think that without certain people I would not be here, where I am today.”

Nevarez’s success as a freshman in the program’s first year has been largely due to her constant effort to improve and her ability to adjust quickly to a new setting. Nevarez developed both as a wrestler and as a person with the help of her coaches and teammates. Her ability to overcome challenges, work well with others, and represent the E.A.S.T values all show that she will succeed in the years to come in her wrestling career.