Lexa’s interest in wrestling started at a young age, inspired by her father’s stories about the sport. “My dad always told me stories about when he wrestled and how much fun it was,” she shared. “So in sixth grade, when they allowed you to try out sports, I decided to give it a shot. I tried it, and I’ve stuck with it ever since.” Her commitment quickly paid off. By her freshman year, she was already competing at the varsity level. This early start is laying the foundation for her remarkable career.
Standing at 5’4″ and competing in the 120-pound weight class, Lexa has demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication throughout her wrestling career.After being the first female wrestler at Ames High School to reach 100 wins, Lexa hopes to be seen as a role model for young athletes, proving that dedication can lead to greatness.
Achieving 100 career wins is no small feat, and for Lexa, it was a long-time goal. “It’s been one of my goals since I was younger because it seemed like such a big deal,” she said. “I didn’t expect to get it my junior year. I thought it would be much later down the line.” When the milestone moment arrived, it was even more special than she anticipated. “I kind of knew it was coming, but I had a friend bring these orange pom-poms into the stands. I had no clue what the poster looked like until they showed me. Seeing all the orange in the stands made it feel even more special.” Now, with 100 wins under her belt, Lexa is setting her sights even higher “Now I can go for 150 or even bigger goals.”
Being a student-athlete is challenging, and for Lexa, the toughest part is balancing wrestling with schoolwork. “Wrestling takes up a lot of time with in-school practices and things outside of it,” she explained. “Balancing homework and even just simple things like sleep is hard because I’m working out late, then doing homework even later, and getting up early to practice again.”
Every wrestler faces tough matches, and for Lexa, some of her hardest battles have been at the state level. “State matches are always tough, but even this year at our first home tournament for girls, my finals match was really difficult. There was so much pressure with everyone watching.” To handle that pressure, she has a routine “I put on my headphones, listen to music, and try to zone out. If I start getting too nervous, I go into the stands and talk to my dad. He always knows what to say to help me relax.”
Wrestling has taught Lexa valuable lessons about herself. “I’ve learned that I can actually do a lot more than I thought I could,” she said. “Your mind will give out before your body does. If you ever think it’s too hard, it’s not true you can push past it.” She also emphasizes the importance of proper nutrition and conditioning. “Last year, I was cutting 15 pounds, and it was really tough. This year, I’m following a nutrition plan, and I’ve felt so much better. It’s helped my energy, endurance, and overall mood.”
Lexa’s success is inspiring more young girls to take up wrestling. “I hope more girls want to go out for wrestling, and the ones already in it set big goals and go after them. My little cousin started wrestling because she watched me, and that makes me so happy.” Since Lexa’s freshman year, the number of female wrestlers at Ames has grown significantly. “There are a ton more girls wrestling now. This year, we even have a 1A and 2A division, which shows how much the sport is growing.”
Beyond her 100 wins, Lexa is focused on continued success. “Placing at state two years in a row has been one of my proudest achievements,” she said. “Now, I’m aiming for another strong season and bigger goals.” As she continues to push boundaries and inspire future athletes, Lexa Rozevink is proving that wrestling isn’t just about strength,it’s about heart, perseverance, and the will to succeed.
