‘Many others might have given up after such an injury, but not her’

OTHELLO – From the moment she stepped onto the mat as a young wrestler, Othello High School junior Alejandria Espindola had dreams of reaching the pinnacle of her sport. 

This year, those dreams crystallized into reality as she captured the state championship title in the 2A girls wrestling division at 235 pounds. Espindola's path to victory, however, was fraught with challenges and setbacks, most notably a serious shoulder injury that could have sidelined her the entire season. 

“It feels amazing because, finally, my hard work and dedication have paid off,” Espindola said. “Coming from a really tough injury at the beginning of the season, I had so many doubts. It felt like I was on the verge of giving up, but then I realized that if you put your mind and heart into what you love, you can achieve great things.” 

Espindola's journey began during the first week of practice, when in a freak accident, she dislocated her shoulder, a trauma that would challenge not only her physical strength and mental fortitude, she said.  

“When I dislocated it, I had only practiced once the whole week,” she said. “Just being in the room and trying to work through the pain made it really tough.”  

Despite her adversities, Espindola's resolve to succeed remained unshaken. With the guidance and support of her coaches, particularly head coach Sammy Rocha, she slowly began her rehabilitation, she said. She returned to practice only a month and a half later.  

“There were times I thought she might not make it this year,” Rocha said. “Watching her struggle with the injury, we worried if she would ever fully recover. But Alejandria is one of those athletes with a strong mentality. She kept saying, ‘If my shoulder pops out, just pop it back in. I want to keep wrestling.’” 

However, soon after returning, Espindola’s shoulder came out during a district tournament. She ended up placing third at that meet. 

“The shoulder did come out at the tournament. It was still sore, but it wasn't painful like it was the previous weeks,” Rocha said. “Then we are going into the state tournament. We're thinking, ‘OK I think, I think she's going to be alright.’” 

The day before state, Espindola was stretching and her shoulder popped out again.  

“So now we're in our heads again, like, I don't think she's going to be able to do this, because she's rushing some of the state's best heavy weights,” Rocha said. “Somebody's just going to push that shoulder and torque on it, and it's going to come out. But she is so strong and she got to a point where she said, ‘Well, I have all season to recover, so let me just go out there. If it comes out, we'll pop it back into place, and then I'll go back out there and wrestle.’ That was kind of her attitude. She didn't care if it came out, she was just like, ‘Put it back in and then throw me back out there because I'm going to go win a state championship.’ That was our whole weekend.” 

As the state championship approached, the uncertainty surrounding her shoulder loomed large.  

“I was really nervous,” Espindola said. “The day before the first day of state, my shoulder popped out while stretching. I honestly thought my season was over.” 

But with a fierce determination to succeed, she was prepared to push through her pain, guided by faith and the belief that she could achieve the ultimate goal: a state title. However, she had to change her wrestling style, focusing on using just her good arm during most of her matches.  

“I learned my lesson in practice that if I throw my hand out too much my shoulder would pop out so I would keep my hand in, kind of like a T-Rex, and my other arm just reaching and waiting for opportunities to shoot and stuff like that,” Espindola said.  

Beginning the tournament with a first-round bye, she won subsequent matches, punctuating her ascent with a series of victories. She beat Cearoose Ceasar from Washington with a fall in 1:57. Then in her quarterfinal match, she won by another pin against Rebeka Albarez from Prosser in 1:20. Then she won her semifinal round against Charlene Underwood of Toppenish by decision.  

In the finals, she faced Hailey Rains of Anacortes. 

“It was a tough match, but I stayed focused," Espindola said. “As soon as I got her on her back, I knew I had her. It felt like a weight lifted off my chest.”

Espindola beat Rains with a pin in 4:38.  

“Then going into the semifinals match against the top of this girl, she was wrestling really smart, trying to avoid using that right arm as much as possible,” Rocha said. “She ended up winning that match, and then in her finals match, it almost didn't even seem like it bothered her, because she used both arms willingly and with no pain whatsoever. Maybe it was the adrenaline, I don't know.” 

For Rocha, witnessing his athlete—with such an unyielding spirit—emerge victorious was both exhilarating and emotional.  

“Each state champion is special, but to see Alejandria, especially with everything she went through, makes this victory all the more gratifying,” he said. “She truly embodies what it means to overcome obstacles. Many others might have given up after such an injury, but not her.” 

Espindola's journey is not just a personal triumph; it serves as an inspiration for many in her team and the broader wrestling community, Rocha said.  

“She is so strong,” Rocha said. “She's really athletic ... Sometimes, when you think of a heavyweight that they're not very mobile, or they're not very quick, or they're not very strong, she's all of that. I mean, if you want a heavyweight, that's your prototypical heavyweight that everybody desires to have on their team. She's quick. She works extremely hard.” 

Rocha said she “is a clown,” who offers the team a soft, sweet sense of humor. However, as soon as Espindola steps onto the mat, she is one of the most competitive people he has ever met.  

“It’s like an alter ego, she has this alter ego that instantly becomes a lion,” Rocha said.  

Espindola would like to thank her coaches, team and God for the season she had.  

“One piece of advice I’d give to other young women aspiring to succeed in wrestling is to never give up — no matter how hard it hurts or how many times you fall,” Espindola said. “Keep pushing, and it will be worth it.” 

Espindola was one of eight of those from the Othello Girls team that placed at Mat Classic for the Othello Girls. The team placed second in the Girls 2A tournament with 221.5 points.  

Grayce Mendez, 110, placed second and scored 26 points. Bella Garza, 105, placed third and scored 25 points. Angela Monday, 140, placed third and scored 22 points. Karla Guzman, 145, placed fourth and scored 24 points. Diamond Van Cleve, 135, placed fifth and scored 18 team points. Briseida Galvez, 120, placed sixth and scored 17 team points. Grace Rocha, 115, placed sixth and scored 13 team points.  

As she reflects on her achievements thus far, Espindola looks ahead to her senior year.  

“I want to continue improving my technique and make sure my shoulder is better,” she said. “Winning this title is just the beginning. I want to come back next year, even stronger.” 

    Alejandria Espindola from Othello won her championship match after dislocating her shoulder during the beginning of her season.
  

    Alejandria Espindola, a junior from Othello wins her championship match at Mat Classic in Tacoma. Espindola has a season record of 12-2 after starting her season with a shoulder injury.
  

    Alejandria Espindola tackled Jaxon Rocha in a hug from the Othello Boys wrestling team after she won her championship match. They embraced in another hug after Espindola helped him up. She then went to celebrate with her other teammates.