Student Spotlight: Eyslin Turcios (Interview)

Picture provided by Eyslin Turcios  

I had the privilege on interviewing our VSN’s pride Eyslin Turcios who is on her way to make history, and this is how it went: 

How did you get into wrestling and who introduced you to the sport?

Turcios: “Both of younger siblings wrestle and they’re really good at it, which is why I decided to join last year, so now it is my second year being part of our wrestling team.”

What do you love the most about wrestling?

Turcios: “I love the environment our group creates; we make fun of one another all the time!”

What aspect of wrestling do you think is the most challenging?

Turcios: “It’s cutting weight for the weight class depending on how much you weigh and what weight class you are in. It is also how intense wrestling practices can be.”

What do you want people to know more about wrestling?

Turcios: “That wrestling is both fun and challenging. You will wrestle opponents that have more experience than you, but you will learn a lot from them. You will gain strengths the more you wrestle and learn.”

What are some of your greatest accomplishments? 

Turcios: “I got first place! and I was able to get it Sunday, January 5th at Uniondale for All Girls’ Wrestling Freestyle.”

How do you deal with stress before a match?

Turcios: “I walk around, warm up, listen to music and I just don’t think about it too much.”

What strengths do you think you have that makes you a great athlete?

Turcios: “My supporters are my strength”

What sport is your favorite to play other than wrestling?

Turcios: “Soccer because I’ve been playing it since 4th grade”

What is a short-term goal you would like to achieve at the end of this season?

Turcios: “Get first place in All Girls County”

Who is a wrestler you look up to?

Turcios: “I look up to Naomi Gonzalez; she’s also a girl wrestler and a State Champion. She has more experience than me and I get to learn a lot from her. Also, my brothers... they’re amazing!”

What advice do you have for the up-and-coming wrestlers?

Turcios: “Wrestling is both a physical and mental sport so be prepared for that and just do you best.”

Wrestling Team Opinions on Eyslin:

What do you like the most about Eyslin?

Alex Poh (VSN Wrestler): “She’s funny and she brings joy while we are conditioning.”

Yonny Turcios (VSN Wrestler): “She’s energetic, caring and loving. For wrestling she would cheer you on even if you’re losing and specially when you’re winning; she’s a big supporter for other people.”

Naomi Gonzalez (VSN Wrestler): “Her dedication; it’s hard being a girl wrestler. Especially as for right now when there is no one except me and her, it is a hard thing to do.”

Jasraj Bajwa (VSN Wrestler): “She’s second is the county, she’s killing it! She won her first tournament. She teaches freestyle to the people who don’t even do freestyle. I think she’s gonna win counties.”

Coach Vic: “She’s tough and she wants to punish these girls on the mat and that is what we need to do, because we are here to win, then we will make friends.”

What do you do to help Eyslin achieve her goals?

Coach Vic: “I push her to reach her goals. I support her where she needs support. I need to get her to make her weight, and when she gets on that mat, to put it to these other girls the way she should because she practices hard, trains hard and gets what she earns and that’s a First-Place medal!”

And she has done it!