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Draper Journal

JDCHS wrestler best in state again

Mar 28, 2022 10:29PM ● By Catherine Garrett

By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

Surrounded by 20 other fellow actors in Los Angeles who were between filming scenes for the FX series “Mayans M.C.,” Herriman’s Vince Vargas watched a livestream of his daughter Yvette “Star” Vargas competing in the 1A/2A/3A championship wrestling match in the 115-lb. division at the Sevier Valley Center Feb. 17. Star defeated Enterprise’s Alexandria Ramirez to win the title.

“We were all cheering and screaming and crying as she won,” Vince Vargas said. “It was a pretty cool moment.”

“It felt pretty good to win,” Star Vargas said. “I just try my best and whatever happens happens.”

Star, the daughter of Vince and Christie Vargas of Herriman who is a junior at Juan Diego Catholic High School, also won a state title two years ago in the first unsanctioned Utah Girls State Tournament in the 100-lb. category. She was recognized as USA Wrestling’s Utah High School Freshman Female Wrestler of the Year.

Also placing for the JDCHS team at state this season—in the second year of girls wrestling being sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association—was sophomore Ximena Torales-Quintana who finished sixth in the 125-lb. weight category.

Star, 16, watched her younger brothers compete in wrestling and took up the sport along with her older sister, Belle. Vince Vargas said he and his wife went all-in with his girls and traveled all over to competitions. “It took a lot out of us and we probably pushed them harder than we should have,” he said. The two sisters enjoyed plenty of success on the mat, but Star decided to take last year off to pursue other interests and focus on academics unsure if she would ever wrestle again.

New coaches at Juan Diego who brought a new approach “rejuvenated Star’s love for the sport,” according to her dad, and she returned to two-hour practices each day in hopes of returning to the top of the podium. “I never really liked the sport until this year,” Star said. “The coaches made a big impact on me and taught me so much. They made it fun and this year has felt more like a family.”

Vince Vargas said that wrestling has transformed his daughter. “Star’s extremely shy and wrestling has built a lot of confidence in her,” he said. “It’s been fun to watch her growth and fall in love with it again. We have tried to step back and let her do her thing, and then be there as needed with hugs and praise.”

Star said she hopes to defend her state title in her senior year while continuing to thrive in the sport. “I definitely will have to work extra hard to keep winning because people are just gonna get better,” she said. “But, wrestling has taught me not to give up.”

“Juan Diego’s wrestling team has a bright future with this new coaching staff and a shining ‘Star’ leading the way,” Vince Vargas said.