Sophomore Wrestler Haven Olmos Achieves First Place Victory at CCS

February 13, 2015

Haven poses with her older sister, c. .(left) and Coach Lopez(right). — Haven poses with her older sister (left) and Coach Lopez (right). Photo courtesy of Haven Olmos.

“It was my goal for this year, and I accomplished it,” declared Haven Olmos, the 10th grade Lincoln wrestler who on Feb. 6 competed and achieved a 1st place victory in the 121 LB CCS Girls Wrestling Championship held at Oak Grove High School. Haven will be competing in State Championships on Feb. 27 and 28 in Visalia.

The CCS Championship consisted of five matches. Haven won all five matches and talked enthusiastically about the final match, in which she competed against an opponent from North Monterey County High School.

So what is the secret to a successful first place victory?

A picture of the final match, in which 1st and 2nd place were decided. Photo courtesy of Haven Olmos.

Haven has a history of participating in physical sports. She has been involved in judo since the age of five. During her middle school years at Burnett, she practiced wrestling but first competed in 8th grade. She continued her wrestling career in her freshman year of high school, and even placed 2nd at CCS in the 128 LB Wrestling Championships. This second place victory triggered Haven to take wrestling even more seriously during her sophomore year. “I knew what I had to do, so I did it,” she said, “I had to win it.”

However, victory is no easy task for an athlete. Haven went through intense training and followed strict diets. In order for Haven to compete in the 121 LB section, she had to weigh 121 pounds. In the beginning of the season, Haven said she weighed 128 pounds. She had to lose 7 pounds to be eligible to compete.

Wrestling CCS 2015 — A picture of all the CCS champions in all weight classes. Photo Courtesy of Haven Olmos.

According to Haven, before the wrestling season, her mother would prepare buffet style meals. When the wrestling season began, all junk food was prohibited. All the buffet style meals turned into salads and a lot of water. As an athlete, it is important to stay hydrated, and as a wrestler who was trying to lose weight, staying hydrated was of major importance to Haven.

Besides changing her eating habits to lose weight, Haven also incorporated large amounts of exercise into her training. “Ever since the season started, I’ve been on the mat, just training and training,” she said. Her workouts included drills in practice and running. Her goal was to be eligible for the 121 Lb competition, and these workouts helped her do so.

Haven shakes hands in the "face-off" with a competitor from North Dame High School. — Haven shakes hands in the “face-off” with a competitor from Notre Dame High School. Photo Courtesy of Haven Olmos.

Haven’s name will go up on the banners in the gym as a CCS Wrestling Individual Champion.

Haven(right) poses with the 126 LB CCS Champion from North Dame High School(left). — Haven (right) poses with the 126 LB CCS Champion from Notre Dame High School (left). Photo Courtesy of Haven Olmos.

Haven told Lion Tales, “Here and there, there were a couple injuries, but keeping up the [positive] mentality, was important.”