The Skyline View: Where did the motivation to wrestle come from?
Veronica Uy: It started in high school. I joined the tennis team, and the wrestling coach was also the tennis coach. He encouraged me to join, and I found out I was stronger than most girls, and I took advantage of that.
TSV: What’s it like being the only girl on the wrestling team?
VU: It’s really tough because it’s hard for me to find a partner that’s around my same skill level, and they’re just a lot stronger than I am too. It’s just really tough.
TSV: So you wrestled in high school?
VU: I wrestled for one year and then senior year I got injured. I actually twisted my ankle really bad and it got sprained. It scared me, but I came back.
TSV: Do you have any wrestling heroes at all? Have you been following collegiate wrestling at all?
VU: No, I haven’t. The only people I really look up to are the people in the mat room, like the assistant coach, Jason. He wrestled here and he’s just a really good wrestler. I admire him.
TSV: So he helped you with your development?
VU: Yeah, a lot.
TSV: As far as tournaments, how do you go about competing?
VU: It’s really hard. The guys, it’s like they’re out to get me. When I’m about to wrestle they stare at me like they want to kill me then take me down, it’s really hard. It’s like they go extra hard because I’m a girl, but I expect it to happen.
TSV: Do you think the fear of losing to a girl plays into that?
VU: Yes, I do and I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want to get beat by a girl if I was a guy too.
TSV: Is there any discrepancy between male and female perspective of the rules?
VU: No.
TSV: Tell us about your experience in tournaments.
VU: It’s been really crazy. That’s all I can describe because it’s kind of weird being the only girl because when you go to weigh in it’s just a bunch of guys half naked walking around. They just kind of stare at you like, “What are you doing here?” Like I don’t belong.
TSV: Does that shake you in any way?
VU: I get a little scared, but once you get on the mat you lose all fear.
