Lowndes High School wrestler Valrie Medina is ITG Next’s January 2025 Georgia Female Athlete of the Month.
Medina was one of four nominees considered for the award.
“We are very proud of Val, and she has definitely worked hard to achieve her goals,” said Spencer Graybeal, Lowndes head wrestling coach, after hearing that Medina had been named Athlete of the Month.
At the time of writing, Medina is 21-0 on the season and has won several invitational tournaments across the state, according to Graybeal.
“Valrie has won the Raja Bryan Invitational Tournament at Ola High School, the Blue Devil Brawl at Tift County High School, the Lady Packer Invitational at Colquitt County High School, and she won the Valdosta Invitational at Valdosta High School.”
At the time of writing, Medina is competing for the Area 1 girls championship, which is being held at Houston County High School. Graybeal said that Medina is competing at 140 pounds and is the No. 1 seed.
This would be her second straight season of winning the Area tournament.
According to Graybeal, Medina won the 2024 Region 1-6A championship and was a state qualifier in the 145-pound weight class.
Last year was a breakthrough season for Medina as she became the first girls wrestler to ever represent Lowndes High School at the GHSA state championships. She finished as the Area 2 girls wrestling champion at 145 pounds, winning her first match in just 15 seconds. She then won the Area 2 title by a technical foul, which is a perfect 15-0 score. She was a sectional qualifier at 145 pounds, finishing third in her weight class. That secured her spot in the GHSA state finals.
Unfortunately, an injury at the state championships in Medina’s second match prevented her from capturing the state title, according to Graybeal.
In addition to competing on the Lowndes High School team, Medina also wrestles for the SGAC Devil Dogs, a Valdosta-based club program affiliated with USA Wrestling.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how her season concludes this year, and we are certainly wishing her the best,” Graybeal said.
Let’s hope Medina can get another shot at winning that state championship.
Her overall record while wrestling for Lowndes is 53-12.
Congratulations to Lowndes wrestler Valrie Medina, ITG Next’s January 2025 Georgia Female Athlete of the Month.
