Akins wrestler finishes strong with 4th trip to state

Jake Copeland|March 30, 2023

UIL

Deonne Topete stands on the winner’s podium after placing fifth at the state-level University Interscholastic League wrestling tournament.

Deonne Topete, a senior on the Akins wrestling team, has competed in top-level state competitions since she was a freshman.

Now that she is in her senior year at Akins, she is trying to finish off strong. She has made state again for the fourth time after she came in first at the regional wrestling tournament in February. She remained undefeated until she competed at the state meet, where she came in 5th Place.

In previous years, Topete has traveled out of state to compete at the National Championships for USA Wrestling. Last year, she placed 6th at the national meet, giving her “All-American” status. She hopes to compete, again, at the national meet this summer.

The Eagle’s Eye interviewed Topete about her accomplishments and how she has been keeping up with her success.

EE: What attracted you to wrestling as a sport?

Deone Topete: “What attracted me to the sport I guess was cause it was different from anything that I have done. The main reason I enjoy this sport is that it’s kind of an individual sport that is special once I go to regional or state.”

EE: What is your most significant accomplishment as a wrestler?

DT: “My most significant accomplishment would be when I became an All- American.”

EE: What do you attribute your success as a wrestler to?

DT: “I think I attribute my success as a wrestler to my coach and my wrestling partners who pushed me hard during practice even when I was feeling lazy.”

EE: How many hours a week do you spend wrestling?

DT: “In practice, I spend about 10 hours a week and the tournaments are about 12 to 18 hours, it depends on what kind of tournament it is caused at State it was about 12 hours for 2 days.”

EE: What do you find challenging about wrestling?

DT: “What I found challenging in wrestling is the conditioning and the mindset due to it being a tough sport.”

EE: What are some of the misconceptions about wrestling that you think are important for people to understand? OR What do you want people to know about wrestling?

DT: “I feel a lot of girls think that wrestling is a male sport and that it’s not made for girls but I think that’s wrong because there are a lot of girls in other schools doing wrestling and it just keeps growing.”

EE: How have people like Coach Tambunga, Coach Galvan and your teammates helped you to become successful?

DT: “I feel the coaches and teammates have helped me be successful due that they pushed me to do my best and my hardest and to leave everything on the match.”