The first step

One look. Then all in.

A thousand mile journey begins with the first step. For Xochitl, that first step came through a wrestling highlight video. One look and she was hooked.

The hook turned into two state titles at Klein High School, junior national championships in freestyle and folkstyle, and mat time on three continents. She has been invited to the U.S. Olympic Trials twice. None of it made the next step optional.

The restart

Start over. Keep moving.

Her first college stop was not the right fit. So she transferred mid-season and started over, no ceremony, no excuses.

The restart became a breakthrough: an 11-1 season, a regional title, and a national championship at 124 pounds, beating three ranked opponents to get there.

The read

Find the pattern.

“Everyone has a pattern, no matter how much they try to hide it.” That is how Xochitl reads an opponent, and it is how she reads the work.

Find the pattern. Put your hands on it. Stay calm. Work. Grit. Earned.