Elk Grove teen goes to state wrestling meet for 2nd time

MAKING HER SECOND TRIP TO THE STATE WRESTLING MEET, NOW A SOPHOMORE, ANIKA BEGAN HER DESTINATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. >> SHE WAS IN FIFTH GRADE AND ONE OF THE STUDENTS, HIS DAD STARTED COACHING. SHE WAS LIKE, I THINK I’M GOING TO TRY IT OUT. DEL: SHE IS CURRENTLY RANKED FIFTH IN THE STATE IN THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION, INCLUDING A SECOND PLACE FINISH AT THE RENO WORLD’S NATIONAL WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP. IT IS A SPORT SHE SAYS THAT HELPED HER OFF THE MAT. >> IT KEPT ME ON THE RIGHT TRACK. MAYBE ME BOOST MY SELF-ESTEEM BECAUSE IT IS MAKING ME DO SOMETHING. LIKE, I AM NOT GOING HOME SITTING ON THE COUCH, WATCHING TV. I AM GOING TO PRACTICE, WORKING OUT, MEETING NEW PEOPLE. DEL: SHE WILL JOIN SIX OTHERS HEADED TO THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING MEET THIS WEEK REPRESENTING ELK GROVE HIGH SCHOOL. THREE BOYS AND FOUR GIRLS. >> ADDING THE GIRLS INTO THE PROGRAM, AT FIRST THEY WERE TOGETHER, AND WHAT WE HAVE WORKED ON IS SEPARATING THEM SO THEY CAN BECOME THEIR OWN TEAMS AND HAVE THEIR OWN IDENTITY UNDER ONE UMBRELLA. IT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR NOT JUST A BOY TO SEE THE GIRLS RUSSELL, BUT HAS BEEN GREAT TO SEE THE GIRLS HAVE THEIR OWN ROOM AND BE ABLE TO COMPETE. SOMETIMES GIRLS ARE WORKING HARDER THAN THE BOYS. DEL: DESPITE HER INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS ON THE MAT ALONG WITH HER TEAM SUCCESS, ANNIKA HAS PLANS FOR COLLEGE. >> I WANT TO WRESTLE IN COLLEGE. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET A COLLEGE DEGREE THROUGH THAT. I WANT TO BE A MIDWIFE, WHICH IS REALLY SURPRISING. SO IT IS KIND OF HARD FINDING A COLLEGE THAT OFFERS GIRLS WRESTLING AND