Tatiana Alexander Earns All-State Honors at Historic Wrestling Tournament

Tatiana Alexander may have a bright future in wrestling, but she’s already making history. 

On Feb. 27, the Eastchester High School sophomore traveled to Albany to compete at the inaugural New York State Public High Schools Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Girls Wrestling State Championships, becoming Eastchester’s first-ever All-State girls wrestler in the process. Competing in the 94 lbs. weight class against a field of 15 other wrestlers, Alexander earned a spot on the finalists’ podium with a fifth-place finish—no small feat considering that the event featured some of the fiercest competitors from across New York State. 

Alexander’s rise to the All-State ranks didn’t happen overnight, however. She was introduced to wrestling six years ago when she was in the fourth grade, igniting a true passion for the sport and leading to her seek out more opportunities to hone her skills and throw herself head-long into wrestling culture.

“I had done judo, which is another contact sport, since I was three years old, but my wrestling journey started when I decided to join the Little Eagles wrestling club at the school. There, I learned how much fun the sport was, and I quit judo to do wrestling full time,” explained Alexander. “Wrestling has allowed me to be able to surpass my limits, and understand that I can push a little more than I believe I can.”

Joe Negro, who coaches Eastchester’s varsity wrestling team alongside Kevin Lee, said that Alexander is already a leader on the Eagles’ squad despite her age, as her commitment to her craft is evident every time she sets foot on the mat.

“Tatiana is an excellent person, a dedicated athlete and someone who puts in the time to keep improving,” said Negro. “She probably spent 50% of the season wrestling against boys, she wrestles all-year round and competes in major tournaments all over the East Coast against premiere wrestlers.”

As for being a part of the inaugural NYSPHSAA girls wrestling tournament, Negro noted that Alexander made the most of a unique opportunity that shined a bright light on the world of girls’ wrestling.

“This tournament is going to do a whole lot; once people start to see the respect that the wrestlers are getting at the state level, I think that will start to drive up numbers,” he said. “We had six female wrestlers on the team this year and we hope that number keeps growing.

“I think Tatiana is going to contend for a state championship by the time she graduates.” he added.

Alexander said she is eager to continue to improve as a wrestler and added that she hopes she can help build an interest in the sport among younger girls in the area.

“It was an honor to be able to wrestle in the first-ever girls state championships. I feel as though girls in New York, especially in Section 1, are not aware of the fact that girls wrestling has been growing at a substantial rate,” she said. “But the section produced six All-State wrestlers, including two overall champions, so hopefully, our success can inspire other girls to take up wrestling as well.”