Get to know first Plano Senior HS female wrestler to qualify for state, Melanie Valdez
PLANO, Texas — Plano Senior High celebrates Melanie Valdez, the first female Wildcat wrestler to ever qualify for state.
The Plano Senior High wrestling program made history last year, or more accurately “herstory”. The first female wrestler from Plano Senior to ever make it to State stands a mere 4’8” and just under 100 pounds. Melanie Valdez exudes confidence. Small, but mighty, Melanie symbolizes all things that a wrestler must be: tenacious, brave, motivated, and fearless.
When she started wrestling her goal was simple, to overcome her fear of trying new things and challenge herself to get outside her comfort zone. Little did she know it would be a pathway to so much more. Now a Senior, Melanie’s record her Junior year was 22-8 which led to her State qualification. When asked why wrestling, she smiles and says she “loves how it makes people more confident in themselves because it doesn’t matter how you look or act, everyone is welcome and loved.”
This exceptional culture is upheld at the highest level by Wildcat Coach Andrew Rettke. He makes it a point to make sure every single wrestler feels at home, it’s not just a team, it’s the Plano Wrestling family. He has seniors help freshman both on the mat and academically. Coach Rettke encourages his athletes to go as a group to support other Plano Senior sports teams. There is a camaraderie within this team that is rare at the high school level.
“Coach Rettke has been there for me through all of high school for anything I needed, he understands the way I need to be taught and pushes me to be the best.”
As captain of the girls team Melanie is a natural leader and helps the younger athletes with their technique or any issues. Wrestlers are known for their ability to push through challenges, and Melanie is no stranger to some of life’s adversities. Wrestling has helped her overcome her depression, anxiety, and has become an outlet to work through her anger issues and build her once struggling self confidence. Being a teenager isn’t easy, and Melanie knows that her teammates have had their fair share of tough times too.
“What makes my team special is how we care for one another like we are family.” Melanie knows the meaning of family being the middle child with 2 older siblings and 2 younger siblings. Her mother, Jean says, “She is the athlete of the house, every single one of us are her biggest supporters! Her determination and motivation inspire us all.” When asked about her future in the sport her eyes light up, “ I would love to wrestle in college. My goal with wrestling is to become a well known athlete and be a role model for all the young athletes around the world.”
As we approach the new wrestling season we look forward to her journey and hope that history will repeat itself. Melanie says “I want to thank my parents and my sister for supporting me through this journey, my teammates for always caring for me, my female coaches for pushing me to be better, and Coach Rettke for everything he has done for me and the Plano Wrestling program.”
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