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In Danville, Illinois, Yariah Shaw is carving her own path in wrestling, taking inspiration from her brother, Phillip Shaw IV, who twice secured a fourth-place finish at the state level for the Vikings.
Yariah, having reached state competition as a freshman, is already making waves. She clinched victories at both regionals and sectionals, and she approaches her inaugural state appearance with a strong sense of achievement.
“My ultimate aim is to win, of course, but reaching state as a freshman is an accomplishment in itself,” Shaw expressed. “Regardless of the outcome, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far.”
Marcus Forrest, the coach of Danville’s wrestling team, noted, “Many are taken aback when they face her on the mat. They don’t expect her to be as powerful, skilled, and fiercely competitive as she is.”
“I think she surprised a lot of people when they wrestle against her because, I don’t think they anticipate her being as strong as she is, being as skilled as she is, and really being as competitive as she is,” Danville wrestling coach Marcus Forrest said.
Shaw is now eligible for $1,500 cash prize we’ll give away to one boy and girl at the end of the school year.
If you know a deserving local high school athlete, nominate them here.