By Katie Finn, WIN

The story of the 2009 World Team Trials women’s championship bout at 112 pounds was all but written before the first match even began.

            Jessica Medina edited that story.

            Patricia Miranda, a veteran of women’s wrestling and the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, was coming off of a dominant championship victory at the U.S. Nationals. She was to face Medina, a newcomer on the international stage from Pomona, Calif., a recent University of the Cumberlands graduate and fourth-place finisher at the U.S. Nationals in April.

            Medina’s re-write became one of the biggest upsets of the 2009 World Team Trials as she rallied to beat Miranta in three bouts.             “I didn’t feel any pressure,” said Medina. “I didn’t think about names, I didn’t think about people. I didn’t think about anything but what I’ve been working on all year and told myself I was going to hit it.”

            She did not dominate Miranda. In fact on three separate occasions, Medina was within 15 seconds of losing a match, and with it the chance to go to the World Championships.  But every time she found a way to score and keep fighting. Had Medina not scored at any of these decisive moments, the bout would have been over and Miranda would have made her fifth World/Olympic Team.

            The most stunning of these moments came in the final period of the third and final match. Following a scoreless period, it came down to a 30-second clinch. Medina was in the defensive position, with Miranda having the advantage. Not only did Medina escape the hold, she scored a takedown with 12 seconds to go in the match.

             “I knew what the first clinch felt like,” she said. “I knew that she had gotten in on my left leg. It is my weakest defense so when it was time, I did not give her a good hold,” said Medina. “I didn’t wrestle all this way for it to come down to a 30-second clinch because of some ball that they picked out.”

            Just one year ago, Medina was in her final year of women’s collegiate wrestling, dominating the field. She closed out her final season by winning the 2008 title at the Women’s College National Tournament and was named the Outstanding Wrestler. She then made the move to Colorado Springs to the U.S. Olympic Training Center, where she trains as a resident athlete.

            The transition into international competition has not been as smooth as Medina would have hoped.

             “I think that’s been one of the hardest things for me, still transitioning from college,” Medina said. “I know that part of being an elite athlete is just thinking for yourself. I’ve grown a lot mentally.”

            That growth is evident in her ability to build off of disappointment and prove doubters wrong.

             “Around the nationals in April, I wasn’t happy with my performance and just kind of took it hard. Just felt like the whole year just kind of fell short a little,” said Medina. “I decided I’m not going to give up. I’ve got to keep pushing on. I just decided — mindless training — wrestling, wrestling, wrestling.”

            That hard work paid off at the U.S. World Team Trials and has left her with an enthusiasm and eagerness to take on the world’s top wrestlers.

            “I’m ready. I want more. I just want more,” said Medina following her victory. “I’m just going to do whatever I have to do to be the best.

to say two words: “Sadly, yes.”