When Abbey West first walked through the doors of Jordan High, she never would have imagined her high school career would turn out the way it did. When she was playing tag with some friends, Beetdigger Coach Christian “Babo” Babinski asked her if she’d ever considered wrestling. She hadn’t but thought, “What’s the harm in trying?” Four years later, she didn’t just excel on the mat, she earned consecutive bouts in state championships, culminating in the state champion title in the 105 lb. weight class her senior year. “When I first started, I was definitely a hothead,” she recalls, “but wrestling has helped me grow. I have a lot of support from my coaches and my parents.” The tiny but mighty wrestling champ says the sport has changed her outlook on life. There’s the physical dedication required but also the mental agility needed to outsmart your opponent and keep your cool. Mostly, though, it has been knowing you have someone in your corner. West is headed to Utah Tech University to become a teacher and continue to wrestle, with her sights set on All-American and National Champion. One day she hopes to return to the Canyons District to work in special education. “I just want to be like one of those teachers the students can count on,” she says. “At Jordan the teachers are more like your friends. I like to see people grow and motivate people in different ways and teachers are some of the most motivational people I know.” As she looks back on her time as a Beetdigger, she says she wishes she could tell her freshman self that you don’t have to worry about fitting in. “It’s ok to be different,” she says, “I would just tell myself to be you and try not to be someone you’re not.”