Annabel Medina a wrestler at Channel Islands High School has been giving it her all everyday to get better and help her teammates get better. She placed 1st in CIF last season in the 121 weight class and is looking to achieve that again this season.

Medina has been wrestling for 6 years at CI, she began her wrestling career here in the seventh grade. Medina is dedicated to her sport, and her team. Every day, Medina commutes from Moorpark to Channel Islands just to wrestle.

Seeing her brother and family members wrestle is what got her interested in the sport.

“Before we started wrestling in the room in the back (of the school), my brother used to wrestle in the activity room,” says Medina. “They would bring the mats and have to set them up every day.”

Every season Medina pushes herself to do one thing: make it to state. Medina says the season is off to a good start, and that “there are a lot of freshman this year, but everyone is working hard.” Medina believes that “you have to push yourself and your team so that you can all do well and achieve big things.”

Medina looks up to her father and grandpa the most; they’re some of her biggest fans.

“My grandpa would drive his motorcycle in the rain just to see me wrestle,” says Medina. “My dad can’t always go to my matches, but he is always cheering me on.”

In the first wrestling tournament of the year, Medina placed sixth as a semifinalist because she dislocated her thumb, but that isn’t going to stop her.

“If I didn’t get hurt, I would’ve snapped some necks,” says Medina.

At the beginning of every match Medina is only looking for one thing: She wants to win. She goes by one motto and it’s to “Snap Necks Cash Checks!”