Maȟpíya Lúta freshman Angela Davis is quickly emerging as one of the most compelling stories on the girls’ wrestling roster this season. A first-year wrestler, Davis placed 3rd this past weekend at the Spearfish Girls Invitational, a meet that featured strong programs and experienced competitors from across the region.
What makes her success even more impressive is how new she is to the sport and how unexpected this journey has been.
“I joined wrestling because I thought I wasn’t ready for basketball,” Davis admitted when reflecting on her transition. “However, wrestling has brought so much spark back into my life. I’ve never thought I’d make it this far.”
That spark has translated into results. Davis has already cracked the honorable mention category in the state rankings, a milestone she didn’t imagine achieving in her first season.
At Spearfish, she wrestled up a weight class, only the second tournament of her career, a challenge that many experienced wrestlers avoid. The nerves were there, but so was the grit.
“At first I was a little nervous,” she said. “It was my second time wrestling and I had to wrestle a weight class up, but after a while I had to shake it off.”
Her breakthrough performance, she says, came down to mentality.
“When I was at Spearfish what really helped me make it to 3rd was my high ego,” she said with a smile. “Even with having to wrestle a weight class up, I entered Spearfish’s gym with confidence to win and the mindset that I can pin anyone.”
But there is another layer to Davis’s competitive edge, one rooted in faith.
“Before the ref blows the whistle I take a minute with my back against my opponent,” she explained. “As I put on my ankle band I say this prayer: ‘Dear Heavenly Father protect me and my opponent from any harm and let me walk away with this win. In the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, amen.’”
Between her confidence, her prayer, and her work ethic, Davis has quickly become a wrestler to watch, and she isn’t done setting goals.
“There’s much more I can improve that I’m ready for,” she said. “One goal I have for myself is to make it to state as a freshman.”
Davis grew up identifying as a “basketball girl,” never expecting that the sport that would ignite this much joy, pride, and competitiveness would be wrestling.
“I never thought I’d be wrestling,” she said. “I was always such a basketball girl growing up, now I have more potential than ever to make the face of our wrestlers.”
For now, she keeps it simple, win, compete, grow, and keep proving to herself how far she can go.
“I don’t really have many goals set for myself but to win,” she said. “But thank you for checking in on me. I appreciate it so much.”
Angela Davis may be new to the sport, but she is already wrestling like a contender, and a freshman with her eyes on the state tournament is a storyline Maȟpíya Lúta is happy to cheer for.