Wrestling Teaches Tovar Discipline, Leadership

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(December 24, 2023 7:30 AM ET) It is fun to watch Jackson High School wrestler Sienna Tovar on the sidelines during a match.

The senior is crouched next to the coaches yelling instructions to wrestlers, hyping her teammates up, and getting them ready for the next man up as a team captain.

Tovar says, “If you can’t beat them, join them.”

And that she has.

Through five years of wrestling, Tovar is a state medalist, team captain, and main motivator in a sport dominated by rough-and-tumble boys.

“Wrestling is a contact sport, so you have to speak up and be loud at matches,” Tovar said. “I have learned to vocalize for myself through the sport.

The JHS senior is also excellent on the mat. Through nine matches this season against female competition she is 8-1 with eight pins.

Last week she won the Mt. Morris Invitational at 144 pounds and two weeks ago she was second at East Jackson.

“It is amazing to see the growth of girls’ wrestling,” Tovar said. “The tournament at East Jackson was huge and lasted until 1 a.m.”

The sport has taught Tovar numerous things over the years.

“Wrestling helps you learn determination and self control,” Tovar said. “It’s tough when you are trying to cut weight and can’t eat or drink certain things.

“You have to dive down into your heart and decide what is important to you in life.”

She finished seventh in the state last year at 140 pounds.

“The goal this year is to win it all,” Tovar said. “I guess you have to shoot for the moon.”

Tovar is getting looks for college wrestling programs and is considering staying local at Albion College.

She shouldn’t have any trouble academically with a 3.8 grade point average at JPS. 

She would like to continue the sport well past high school and college.

“I hope to continue wrestling … maybe coach a team or start a girls’ club somewhere or something like that,” Tovar said. 

Tovar would like to study industrial engineering.

“I am a hands-on learner who enjoys fixing things,” Tovar said.