Azilya Iron Eyes is headed to the state wrestling tournament, which begins Thursday, February 26, carrying momentum and confidence into one of the biggest competitions of the season.
After a strong performance at regions, Azilya said nothing dramatically new clicked for her, she simply trusted her preparation. “This weekend, I don’t think anything new really clicked. I went out there and did what I always do. I tried my best,” she said.
Her recent success, however, has been built on intentional adjustments. Over the past several weeks, Azilya has focused on refining moves that fit her personal wrestling style and developing counters to techniques that have challenged her in the past. “The biggest improvements I’ve made have definitely been learning moves that are custom to my style of wrestling and learning new counters for moves that have stopped me from winning before,” she explained.
When matches become difficult or momentum shifts during a bout, Azilya relies on her mindset to stay composed. “The main way I stay focused and confident when matches get tough is by remembering everyone is beatable,” she said. That belief keeps her steady and competitive, regardless of the opponent across the mat.
As she prepares for state, Azilya is keeping her focus simple and disciplined. Rather than adding new techniques this late in the season, she is sharpening the skills that have brought her success. “With state coming up, I’ve mostly been concentrating on practicing my best moves, takedowns, and counters. Improving on moves I already know, rather than adding new ones to my arsenal,” she said.
With preparation complete and confidence steady, Azilya Iron Eyes will take the mat Thursday ready to compete at the highest level.