RGC'S Gonzalez prepares mentally for state

RIO GRANDE CITY — Some of life’s most valuable lessons are most evident in the form of redemption and second chances. It just takes a positive attitude when confronting them.

As she makes her first trip to state competition in Austin, Rio Grande City sophomore wrestler Lisa Gonzalez has learned the importance of positive self-deception.

Back in December, Gonzalez lost to Kileen Ellison High’s Nalani Brown and placed third overall in the Austin Atkins tournament. Fast forward two months where this time she got the better end of the match.

“(In Austin) my mind was set that these girls were good and I wasn’t good enough. I prepared myself physically but not mentally,” Gonzalez said. “But when I went to regionals I thought positive. When I went against the girl (Brown), I competed with a different mentality and won.”

That victory led Gonzalez to the 138-pound regional championship where she beat Weslaco High’s Ana Almaguer 19-2 to punch her ticket to state.

However, Gonzalez is not going to Austin just for the experience. She wants to bring hardware back to Rio Grande City.

“Well of course,” she said when asked if she expects to win.”Since I’m already there I’m going to try to go for the state championship. When I am a junior or senior, I know I’ll be way better. But if I can do it right now, let’s do it.

“The girls up there might have more speed and size, but if I try mentally, I know I’ll have a shot.”

Again, it goes back to mentally deceiving yourself into believing you are better than the competition.

Gonzalez, along with Jenny Lee Peña , represent the Lady Rattlers wrestling team that lost four of last year’s regional qualifiers to sister school La Grulla, including four-time state qualifier Samantha Sepulveda.

Gonzalez, a 15-year-old multi-sport athlete in wrestling, volleyball and track and field, cut a deal with her dad last year that if she made did not reach regionals she could not run track. She placed third in district, so she did not join the track team.

“This year, her dad raised the bar and told her ‘if you go to state, then you can run track,” RGC coach Ronald Pratt said. “Sure enough, she kept her promise and Monday she’s going to join the track team. Around here (in RGC), it’s all about multi-sport athletes.

“We seem to have girls who can make it earlier (to state). She hates it when I tell her she’s a natural athlete, but she’s worked really hard and she’s going to be a good one in the future.”