#TeamUSATuesday: Women's National Team member Mallory Velte
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by JD Rader, USA Wrestling
Mallory Velte is a member of USA Wrestling’s Women’s Freestyle National Team, earning the No. 1 ranking at 62 kg/136 lbs.
Before winning three WCWA national titles at Simon Fraser Univ. in Burnaby, Canada, she was a two-time California CIF girls state champion in 2012 and 2013. She also won two University Nationals titles.
On the Senior level, Velte has become a two-time U.S. World Team member, winning a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Velte took time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions for USA Wrestling. Here are the 15 best answers.
What is your favorite movie?
Step Brothers is my favorite because it’s funny, easy to watch for leisure, and doesn’t require much thinking or analyzing.
How did you get your start in wrestling?
I went to start in middle school, and I asked the coach and they told me no and my mom no and so then I didn’t join wrestling. Then in high school there was one other girl on the wrestling team, and they encouraged me to join so I did.
What is your favorite TV show?
Probably The Mindy Project because it requires a unique sense of humor, it has a female writer and protagonist, and it’s relatable and funny.
What is your favorite sport to watch other than wrestling?
Curling. I don’t know, I just like it.
What would you say is your favorite and least favorite thing about wrestling?
My favorite thing is my teammates and the people in the sport. My least favorite is that it’s an individual sport so it can feel isolating at times.
Who is your favorite athlete to watch in another sport?
Simon Biles. She’s amazingly talented and athletic with a carefree persona that makes elite sports seem fun rather than cutthroat and stressful. It’s fun watching her be in the moment and perform to the best of her ability.
What is your favorite social media account to follow?
I really like Bretman Rock. He’s hilarious and authentic. He’s got an ability to be his true self at such a young age, regardless of critical feedback. Transparency like his isn’t common on social media. He doesn’t have a social media image, he just presents himself as he is.
What was your favorite class in college?
My favorite class was abnormal psychology because of all the interesting disorders and I had a great young female professor that was super engaging. I am a psychology major and have considered going into counseling psychology as a career.
What is your favorite place you’ve travelled to?
Morocco was really cool: the culture shock, the great food, the beautiful Sahara desert, riding camels. It was just a completely different experience than usual when traveling.
What advice would you give a younger wrestler?
Stay with it as long as you love it, but if there’s a time when you don’t love it or feel passionate about it, then it’s okay to take a break from the sport
If you weren’t wrestling, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be a park ranger. Working in nature is more appealing than being inside all day.
What do you normally do to pass time on long road trips?
Listen to podcasts. My favorites are “Believed” about Larry Nassar, “The Daily” by the New York Times, “Your World” by Al Jazeera, “Up First” by NPR, and “TED Radio Hour” by NPR.
Do you have any pre-match rituals?
I usually do three tuck jumps and two squats and tell myself I have nothing to lose and nothing to prove and just go wrestle.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
When my mom was pregnant, I was supposed to be a twin.
How did you jump to the next level and become a world medalist?
Just through consistency and focusing on the mental side of wrestling, not just the physical part.
The Velte File
Born: March 4, 1995
High School: Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, Calif.
College: Simon Fraser Univ.
Club: Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
Residence: Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Instagram: @_malpal_
• 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2017 U.S. World Team member
• 2016 U.S. World Team Trials runner-up at 60 kg
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up
• 2016 and 2017 University Nationals champion
• 2016, 2017, and 2018 WCWA national champion
• Fifth at 2013 Junior World Championships
• 2012 and 2013 California girls high school state champion
Before winning three WCWA national titles at Simon Fraser Univ. in Burnaby, Canada, she was a two-time California CIF girls state champion in 2012 and 2013. She also won two University Nationals titles.
On the Senior level, Velte has become a two-time U.S. World Team member, winning a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Velte took time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions for USA Wrestling. Here are the 15 best answers.
What is your favorite movie?
Step Brothers is my favorite because it’s funny, easy to watch for leisure, and doesn’t require much thinking or analyzing.
How did you get your start in wrestling?
I went to start in middle school, and I asked the coach and they told me no and my mom no and so then I didn’t join wrestling. Then in high school there was one other girl on the wrestling team, and they encouraged me to join so I did.
What is your favorite TV show?
Probably The Mindy Project because it requires a unique sense of humor, it has a female writer and protagonist, and it’s relatable and funny.
What is your favorite sport to watch other than wrestling?
Curling. I don’t know, I just like it.
What would you say is your favorite and least favorite thing about wrestling?
My favorite thing is my teammates and the people in the sport. My least favorite is that it’s an individual sport so it can feel isolating at times.
Who is your favorite athlete to watch in another sport?
Simon Biles. She’s amazingly talented and athletic with a carefree persona that makes elite sports seem fun rather than cutthroat and stressful. It’s fun watching her be in the moment and perform to the best of her ability.
What is your favorite social media account to follow?
I really like Bretman Rock. He’s hilarious and authentic. He’s got an ability to be his true self at such a young age, regardless of critical feedback. Transparency like his isn’t common on social media. He doesn’t have a social media image, he just presents himself as he is.
What was your favorite class in college?
My favorite class was abnormal psychology because of all the interesting disorders and I had a great young female professor that was super engaging. I am a psychology major and have considered going into counseling psychology as a career.
What is your favorite place you’ve travelled to?
Morocco was really cool: the culture shock, the great food, the beautiful Sahara desert, riding camels. It was just a completely different experience than usual when traveling.
What advice would you give a younger wrestler?
Stay with it as long as you love it, but if there’s a time when you don’t love it or feel passionate about it, then it’s okay to take a break from the sport
If you weren’t wrestling, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be a park ranger. Working in nature is more appealing than being inside all day.
What do you normally do to pass time on long road trips?
Listen to podcasts. My favorites are “Believed” about Larry Nassar, “The Daily” by the New York Times, “Your World” by Al Jazeera, “Up First” by NPR, and “TED Radio Hour” by NPR.
Do you have any pre-match rituals?
I usually do three tuck jumps and two squats and tell myself I have nothing to lose and nothing to prove and just go wrestle.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
When my mom was pregnant, I was supposed to be a twin.
How did you jump to the next level and become a world medalist?
Just through consistency and focusing on the mental side of wrestling, not just the physical part.
The Velte File
Born: March 4, 1995
High School: Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, Calif.
College: Simon Fraser Univ.
Club: Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
Residence: Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Instagram: @_malpal_
• 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2017 U.S. World Team member
• 2016 U.S. World Team Trials runner-up at 60 kg
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up
• 2016 and 2017 University Nationals champion
• 2016, 2017, and 2018 WCWA national champion
• Fifth at 2013 Junior World Championships
• 2012 and 2013 California girls high school state champion
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