Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award: MARIZZA BIRRUETA
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by National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Marizza Birrueta is a three-time Washington state high school wrestling champion for Grandview High School in Grandview, Washington. She is also a state freestyle champion. At the national level, Birrueta is a member of Team Washington and won a USA Wrestling Junior National title last year. She placed first at the 2015 Flo Reno Worlds.
In addition to winning wrestling tournaments, Birrueta also has a series of historic firsts to her credit. In 2012, she was the first male or female from her school to make it to state as a freshman. In 2013, she was the first female to ever win a state title for Grandview High School. She was also part of the first team to bring a national championship back to her home state when Team Washington won the Junior Women’s National Duals in 2014.
Over the last four years, Birrueta has maintained a 3.4 GPA and has chosen to attend Oklahoma City University in the fall. In addition to wrestling, she lettered in track and field. Birrueta was Homecoming Princess in 2012-2013. As a part of her community service, she has coached a local youth wrestling program and volunteered at her church.
This year marks the Hall of Fame’s second annual Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award, given to outstanding female seniors in states that sponsor a female high school state wrestling championship. Saunders, who inspired the award, was a four-time World Champion, a member of the FILA Hall of Fame and the first female Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
In addition to winning wrestling tournaments, Birrueta also has a series of historic firsts to her credit. In 2012, she was the first male or female from her school to make it to state as a freshman. In 2013, she was the first female to ever win a state title for Grandview High School. She was also part of the first team to bring a national championship back to her home state when Team Washington won the Junior Women’s National Duals in 2014.
Over the last four years, Birrueta has maintained a 3.4 GPA and has chosen to attend Oklahoma City University in the fall. In addition to wrestling, she lettered in track and field. Birrueta was Homecoming Princess in 2012-2013. As a part of her community service, she has coached a local youth wrestling program and volunteered at her church.
This year marks the Hall of Fame’s second annual Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award, given to outstanding female seniors in states that sponsor a female high school state wrestling championship. Saunders, who inspired the award, was a four-time World Champion, a member of the FILA Hall of Fame and the first female Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
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