It seems like East Aurora sophomore Kameyah Young was preordained to be the next great wrestler in her family, even if there was an unexpected pause along the way.
Her older brother, Tim, captured the Class 3A state championship in 2015 at 195 pounds. Another brother, Matt, was a state qualifier.
“I was going to start in middle school,” she said. “And then the pandemic happened, so I finally had the chance to join once I got to high school.”
Right away, Young matched her two older brothers as a state qualifier. Last season as a freshman, she finished 10-7 at 100 pounds.
She earned a place in history by competing in Illinois High School Association’s first girls wrestling state meet.
“After getting down there last year and having a taste of it, my goal is winning a state championship,” she said.
More importantly, Young has another elite competitor in East Aurora’s wrestling room — a benchmark teammate to measure herself against.
Ixzayana Cruz, a senior, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at 105. And she came into the season with a wholly different rationale.
“I am trying to prove everybody wrong,” Cruz said. “Nobody expected me to achieve anything this year. I want to be a state qualifier, and that drives me.”
Young (21-2) and Cruz (20-3) have already reached the 20-win mark heading into Friday’s Upstate Eight Conference Meet.
“Like most freshmen, Kameyah was very quiet last year,” East Aurora coach Ryan Mick said. “She has grown into a vocal leader. It is very impressive to see how much she matured from last year, making her future even more exciting.”
Cruz is the up-and-coming force with the attitude to burn.
“Ixzy brings a ton of energy to the team,” Mick said. “She is one of the most competitive kids I have ever been around. She always wants to be the best at whatever we are doing. At this point, she is just a hidden gem.”
The two are natural training partners. Young is angular and wiry, while Cruz is quick and explosive. At the lower weights, speed is a dominant trait.
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They mimic each other in movement, technique and strategy.
“I like to go with the flow and work with what my opponent gives me,” Young said. “I also enjoy improvising.”
Cruz is pure business — direct, confrontational and tough.
“Once I feel out who I am wrestling, I turn up the aggressiveness and start attacking,” Cruz said. “The big difference from last year is I have really been hitting the weight room and building strength.”
Young and Cruz are standouts of a sport in its infancy stage. The Tomcats, who captured the prestigious Batavia Invitational, feature depth and skill.
“I am very proud of being a wrestler because I feel like I break the stigma of girls not being tough or that wrestling is not a girls sport,” Young said.
Cruz has wrestled against a few boys this season, winning those matches as well.
Young and Cruz are showing by providing a suitable platform, anything is possible.
“I feel like what I have when I compete is hard to replicate,” Young said. “I also really like being with my teammates.
“As much as this is an individual sport, nobody ever gets better by themselves.”
Cruz is every bit Young’s match and competitor. She experiences a rush of emotions in every match.
“The energy that my teammates give me when I compete, the nervousness I get before the match and the feeling I get after winning is the best in the world,” Cruz said.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.