By William Soquet

Contributing Writer

Name: Deziree Mixon

Activity: Wrestling

Parent: Sam Mixon

Deziree seized the opportunity to compete in girls’ wrestling, which was only officially recognized by the WIAA in advance of the 2021-22 season. She won her sectional this year and made it to the state tournament at 160 pounds.

How did you get your start in wrestling?

“My brother actually wrestled before me and my dad said, ‘You should do it next year.’ It was third grade when I started. Him and his friends started a wrestling club for other kids who wanted to do it too. It was called Trocats, and that was the beginning of youth wrestling here in Green Bay. My first years were in the cafeteria at Lombardi Middle School.”

Were there other girls wrestling back then?

“I was one of the only ones. You do feel a little isolated being the only girl there, but it was also a good experience because you learn from other guys or people that are not like you, so you do get a little better. But it was a little upsetting, and it doesn’t feel that good to be the only [girl].”

Do you feel that girls wrestling is growing?

“It’s growing. When I was younger, it felt like I was the only one. It is growing a lot, all the girls I saw at state, there were more than I expected. It was still a lot more than I saw in my past years [in wrestling].”

Is there a difference between school and club wrestling?

“There was a change. When you go to a club, you’re not around [the other wrestlers] as much, and you only see them on certain days. When you go to school, it’s kind of the same, but not really. When you come into club, you come there on your own time, but when it’s a sport here, you see them more often and you get to know them better. I like that.”

Do you get to wrestle with girls from other schools on the Green Bay Co-op team?

“I did last year. This year, all the girls are from West. It was pretty cool to see them come from other schools just to try out wrestling — it was pretty nice.”

What was going to state like?

“It didn’t feel real. Being in Madison and the Kohl Center, you just see everyone else there and you’re just seeing all these other good wrestlers. Like, ‘How did I make it here with all these other wrestlers?’”

Did you learn a lot in your matches at state?

“Yes, I did. It was just having more faith in myself and not second-guessing and trusting yourself.”

What is your favorite restaurant?

“There was a place that our coaches took us in Madison, The Old Fashioned. It’s really good. I didn’t expect for it to be that good, but it was. I think that is my new favorite one.”

Who is on top of your music playlist right now?

“I would say Tyler, The Creator and Frank Ocean.”

What is a favorite TV show or movie of yours?

“My favorite movie for a while has been Wreck-It Ralph. It’s a good movie — no matter how many times I watch it, it never gets old.”

What are a couple of your hobbies?

“I read a lot of manga and anime, so watching shows and reading books is what I do.”

What is a favorite place you’ve traveled to?

“Chicago. I have a lot of family there, and when you have family, it makes it a lot better.”

What are your plans after high school?

“I’m going to be an automotive technician or mechanic. [I want to] build my own car and fix cars.”