At just 4-foot-11 and 95 pounds, Alexa R. might be underestimated at first glance, but her opponents quickly learn otherwise.
Over four years, she built a record-breaking wrestling career at Hillcrest High School.
Known as ‘Mighty Mouse’ to her teammates, Alexa is a three-time district champion, two-time regional champion, four-time state qualifier, and holds the school’s all-time win record of 181 across both the boys’ and girls’ teams.
Her journey began unexpectedly. While searching for basketball workouts, Alexa and her friend stumbled into the wrestling room.
“He was too scared to go in alone, so he dragged me with him,” she said.. “And that’s how it all started.”
That moment sparked a journey that would define her high school experience. While her technique and skill were still developing her freshman year, Alexa’s coach, Randall Balch, says her determination was undeniable.
“Her talent has grown by leaps and bounds,” he said. “From the first time she stepped on the mat to her last, she never stopped improving.”
Alexa never let her size, or the skepticism she faced as a girl in a male-dominated sport, hold her back. She’s heard the remarks and seen the doubt, but belief in herself mattered more than the opinions of others.
“Once you let people dictate who you are, say negative things about you, and you let that consume you, I think that’s the worst thing you can do in this sport,” she said. “So I turn my back to them. I know what I’m doing, and I’m confident in myself.”
Her strength isn’t just physical. Alexa leans heavily on her faith. Before matches, she listens to gospel music and recites her favorite Bible verse:
“Yo te pido que seas fuerte y valiente, que no te desanimes ni tengas miedo, porque yo soy tu Dios, y te ayudaré por dondequiera que vayas.”
Joshua 1:9 is a verse her grandmother taught her as a child.
“She told me, ‘when things are hard or you’re nervous, say this because God is always with you,’” she said. “It stuck with me and it makes me feel at peace.”
Alexa hopes the legacy she leaves at Hillcrest shows students that it’s never too late to chase your dreams; with enough heart and hard work, it’s possible to rise to the top.
That message is especially meaningful for the next generation of girls in wrestling. When Alexa joined the team, there were only a few girls. Today, there are more than 20. She takes pride in being part of that shift, and she hopes her journey encourages more girls to join the team.
In the fall, Alexa will continue wrestling on an athletic scholarship at Texas Woman’s University, where she’s considering studying psychology. Her dreams include becoming an NCAA champion, earning a spot on a world team, and eventually returning to Hillcrest as a coach alongside her current coach. Her ultimate goal is to give back to the community that shaped her by making the sport she loves accessible for all.
As she reflects on her four years, Alexa says it’s the people she’ll miss most, her teammates who became family, and the coach who never gave up on her.
“I’ll miss Coach Balch the most. We’ve had ups and downs, but he’s always been in my corner, not just to train me, but to support me through everything, even off the mat.”
Alexa R. is proof that even the smallest competitors can leave the biggest legacy.
