The wrestling mat has become a second home for Makenna Manning. From intense practices to high stakes matches, she has poured years of hard work into the sport. “I’m a senior in high school, and I’ve wrestled with McAlester for over four years,” Manning said. “What really pushed me into this sport was my head coach, Coach Billy. He pushed me all eighth-grade year to come out and try it.” That encouragement led her to a passion that has defined her high school career.
Manning had always been drawn to wrestling, even before she stepped onto the mat. “My old school had a few people that wrestled, and I’ve always had something in me to want to do it since the seventh grade,” she said. “When I moved to McAlester, I enjoyed watching everyone practice, so they were all really big influences for me.” Now, she’s a leader in the program, serving as a team captain for the girls’ squad. “I try to prepare by working hard and setting a good goal for the people watching me and the younger wrestlers on the team,” she said.
This season, the team’s chemistry has been stronger than ever. “The team, especially the boys, have always been very supportive of each other,” Manning said. “But this year, the energy and chemistry have been unmatched to the years prior. We always had boys cheering us girls on, and girls cheering the boys on. The chemistry this year, because we all had a goal and everyone worked so hard for it, was just something so fierce and amazing.”
Her journey hasn’t been without obstacles. “Definitely my junior year season,” Manning said when asked about her biggest challenge. “I just had some of the worst mental blocks that kept me from performing to my highest potential. I think the biggest part of overcoming was just going back to the room and getting right back to work. Practicing harder, training, and running more in my free time.”
Manning hopes to continue wrestling in college while studying medicine. “The plan is to wrestle in college,” she said. “I have the opportunity to do that, and I’m really excited and blessed for it.”
