Christina Romero attends Rio Rico High School and is a member of the AIA's Student SID Program

 

Following a winning season that capped off with both a sectional championship and a state title, Jessence Octavio-Callejo has officially signed with the Pacific University Boxers.

"Freshman year I wouldn't be able to believe it," says Octavio-Callejo, "This year has just been a dream for me." 

Even as she explored other sports, Octavio-Callejo always knew she was drawn to wrestling. Although her plans always involved going to college, it wasn't until last year that she realized her potential to wrestle beyond high school. Now, after winning the section title and bringing Rio Rico its first State Championship in girls wrestling, she has proven to be ready for the next level.
Photo by Taylor Nordgren

 

Despite her massive success, her journey wasn't easy. During her freshman year, Octavio-Callejo suffered an injury that required surgery, forcing her to take a step back from the sport. Even while recovering, she knew she still wanted to wrestle, and decided to come back and be the best she could be. 

Through both the challenges and triumphs, her family has been cheering her on all the way. Her younger sister is a student manager for the wrestling team, and her older brother also went on to wrestle for Pacific University, making the sport somewhat of a family affair. 

"They've been there for everything, and I'm so glad to have them," she says, "I've had the privilege of also having my brothers as coaches in my corner during the finals. And now, I get to go to the same school as my brother, which is really exciting." 

As she prepares to compete at the college level, Octavio-Callejo is determined to represent Rio Rico with confidence and perseverance to reach her goals. She wants everyone who wrestles for the Hawks after her to always strive to reach higher and never stop dreaming. 

"Dream big. Dream for the highest you can do," she says, "I've been dreaming since 6th grade to win the state championship like my brother did, and now it's time to dream even higher."