Flying into head wrestling coach Mike Roach’s arms, junior Vanessa Egorah celebrated winning the second round of the Texas Wrestling State Tournament. As she began to build momentum against her opponent with around a minute left in the match, she scored two critical points to win.

“I was overjoyed, like I literally couldn’t speak for a minute straight,” Egorah said. “My emotions were all over the place.”

Roach watched as Egorah got a quick reversal against her opponent.

“When Vanessa hugged me, it was just a moment where everything came together, and I was just so proud of her accomplishment and what she did,” Roach said.

Egorah and fellow wrestler, sophomore Akeelah Moore, both had the goal of making it to the state meet.

“I come in the mornings to practice, and I also do after school, and then I also have club practices in Forney with an Olympic coach that I train with,” Moore said.

Roach describes the pair’s efforts at the state tournament as heartfelt and dedicated.

“It was just something that completed our season,” Roach said. “It was very emotional during that time in a good way, and it was just a sense of they completed what what they were trying to do.”

This was Moore’s second year making it to state despite an injury that kept her out of participating in the sport for 11 weeks, which meant she missed all of the regular-season games.

“The training has been on and off,” Moore said. “It’s been difficult trying to catch up, but I’m trying to cram everything in.”

Moore got 2nd place at the state tournament and Egorah got 4th place. Both underclassmen have aspirations for their futures at the state level and beyond. Moore wants to get 1st place in the state, and Egorah wants to place in the top three.

“My practice partners, coaches, friends, and just overall people motivate me to do what I do,” Egorah said.

Roach believes that the state tournament was a learning experience for Moore and Egorah and wants to build on the work they have done and look at their goals.

“Our idea is where we’re leaving right now, we’re peaked,” Roach said. “We want to continue that, so when August comes, we’re not starting from scratch, we just kinda continue.”