WNEG Sits Down with State Champion

How does it feel to be a state champion? Only a small percentage of the population get to know the feeling, but Stephens County High School’s Athena Malek knows.

Malek brought home the state championship in the girls 102 lb. weight class just over a week ago in Macon and spoke with WNEG about the experience.

We asked Malek how it felt to hear her name connected with state champion. “It just feels amazing.” says Malek; “I am grateful for the opportunity to compete and to win the state title means a lot.”

Malek tells WNEG how she got interested in wrestling. “In elementary school they handed out fliers for sports programs and I saw they had wrestling. So I went home and asked my mom if I could wrestle, and of course, she said no. So the next year I asked again. She said no, but my dad said why don’t you let her try it. So I walked into the wrestling room, and walked right out. The coach (Leon Walker) pulled me in and said just try the one practice, and I ended up loving it and sticking with it.”

Malek says she has improved each year to reach the goal of state champion. “I improved on my technique, work ethic, my character all around-wrestling has changed me for the better and has motivated me to get a lot more done outside of wrestling.”

Malek is the Indians first wrestling state champion since 1970 and the first to do it in the girls division. In the girls division there are no classifications other than weight class. Malek defeated Carolina Chavarria of Warner Robins to claim the title and says her first feeling was relief. “It was kind of like a huge weight off of my shoulders. All season I had worked really hard to earn the goal that I just fell short of last season. It had been 4 years since I won my last title (7th grade) and having the opportunity to go out and compete for the high school title was really fantastic.”

Malek is a junior this year at Stephens County High School this year and will have the opportunity to repeat as champion in her senior season.