Grappling her way to success

(ESTACADA) — Kirsten Delazerda, a champion high school wrestler, also jumps in to help out in her community when she sees a need.

Delazerda was a star at the state girls wrestling competitions this year. She placed second in the 135-pound weight class. This makes her the highest placing girl in Estacada girls wrestling.

“It made me feel really good,” she said, “my hard work paid off.”

“Kirsten is one of the hardest working athletes I have coached. If she sets herself a goal, she will accomplish it. She is also one of the most selfless athletes I have coached,” said Nathan Allen, Estacada High School’s girls wrestling coach.

Delazerda credits wrestling with helping to shape her character.

“In the end, it helps you build confidence, discipline, hard work ethic, and so much more. And over time, throughout the season, you become a family with your team. Wrestling is a sport where you bond with your team like no other sport. Wrestling has helped me so much in the long run as a person, such as my confidence, my discipline and my comfort level,” she said.

Delazerda, who has one younger sister, comes by her athleticism naturally. Her father is a black belt and teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“I started Jiu Jitsu when I was a child. I’ve been on the mat since I was a baby,” Delazerda said, and that led her to high school wrestling.

Delazerda wants to be a veterinarian and counts science as her favorite subject.

“Science is fascinating. It’s always changing, and there is always something new to learn,” she said.

A senior in high school with a 3.5 GPA, she will attend Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande to continue her path to becoming a vet.

Since the Mountaineers field a women’s wrestling team, she’ll also be able to continue her wrestling career.

She is a member of the National FFA Organization (formerly Future Farmers of America) and participates in their community service activities.

Her family has laying hens, dogs, a cat and fish.

She is an Estacada High School Athletic Ambassador, helps out at various athletic events and assists with fundraising to keep the sports programs going.

She also helps with the Estacada Mat Club, which teaches wrestling and participates in tournaments for elementary school grapplers.

As a sophomore, she ran a canned food drive for the Estacada Area Food Bank.

She and her friends and teammates have gone up in the Ranger Woods to pick up litter from people that hang out in the wooded area behind Estacada High School.

“We cleaned up as much as we could,” she said.

Until the program was disbanded, Delazerda was also part of the high school’s Link Crew, which helped first-year students transition into high school.

When she isn’t wrestling, Delazerda works at Clackamas River Outfitters.

“It’s a lot of fun. I get to be outside and it helps keep me in shape, lifting boats and paddle boards,” she said.

When she’s not wrestling, studying or working, Delazerda likes to do crafts, hike and water sports — most often with her family.

“I like to wakeboard,” she said, and also paddle boards.

She will miss her high school team as she moves on to college.

“My experience at state was a mixture of happiness and sadness knowing that the state tournament was going to be my last ever high school tournament, and also my last time going to state,” Delazerda explained.

“It made me sad, but also getting to be there with both my girls team and boys team supporting each other warmed my heart.”

Coach Allen is confident she’ll succeed as she leaves Estacada for college and beyond. “She goes above and beyond for her team and the program, and I am sure that will be true in other areas of her life as well.”