Gabriella Gomez didn’t place at Fargo — and she’s unhappy about it. 

The 2022 U17 World silver medalist fell to Cassidy Benwell, 5-3, in the 115-pound Junior quarterfinals before getting pinned in her first consolation match. A possible showdown between Gomez, seeded second, and top-seeded Zao Estrado, the eventual champion, didn’t materialize. 

It came crashing down a week before the tournament when Gomez was hit by a car during a casual bike ride. Her shoe came off during the accident, and she was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

“I’ve crossed this road before,” Gomez said. “I looked both ways and did a double take and I started riding my bike. As I get about halfway I look back to my left and the car is already swerving and braking. There are tire marks everywhere and I got hit on my left side and I went flying. I started bawling and crying. I could have died. This car was going very fast. 

“I called my mom and told her I got hit by a car. His front left light was shattered. The glass was everywhere. I went to the hospital and had a long-sleeve on so I didn’t know what was under my arm. It was really swollen but it wasn’t broken. I didn’t have a concussion but I still get bad headaches sometimes. I get back pain sometimes. Because my left shoe came off, sometimes it hurts to walk.”

Gomez Is The Gold Standard

Despite the injury and doctor's advice, Gomez's determination to win a national championship drove her to compete. A Fargo title eluded her after finishing second in 2021 and third in 2023. This was her time to settle the score. 

A dominant 7-0 performance at Junior Duals weeks prior proved she was ready to make a run. And she couldn’t let her siblings stay ahead of her. Gomez’s brother, Austin, a 2024 men’s freestyle Olympian for Mexico at 65 kg, won four Fargo titles, and her sister, Alexis, earned a stop sign in 2017. 

“For the past year, I’ve written ‘2024 National Champion: 115,’” Gomez said. “Every day. Every single day. Every single morning. Before I go to bed I’m writing on my mirror. I need that motivation. 

“I’m in a wrestling family. My brother is going to the Olympics. I went to Fargo and everyone congratulated me about my brother. Everyone knows I’m his sister so they say I’m going to be a national champion this year. 

“My brother and my sister have Fargo titles ahead of me and don’t like to be lower than my siblings. I hate it. The family name is a lot of pressure but I’m used to it at this point. Having this family name is something that no one can take away from me.”

Gomez made a last-minute decision to join Team Illinois and registered the day before the tournament. Making 115 pounds was difficult since she was essentially out of commission for a week, but she hit the scales just in time to compete. 

She won her first three matches before falling in the quarterfinals. Vindication is under a year away for the Carol Stream native who recently committed to McKendree University as a junior. 

What's Wrong With Me?

The past three seasons open a larger conversation about the pressures of early success. Gomez was stellar in 2022, highlighted by the 46 kg (101 pounds) silver medal at the U17 World Championships. 

Everything changed when expectations grew alongside heavier weight classes. 

“I came back from Worlds and wrestled well and Super 32 hit and I went downhill,” Gomez said. “As a female wrestler, you go through a lot of emotional states. It’s rough. Social media can mess up a girl’s self-confidence. I wouldn’t say I was depressed but I definitely lost some self-confidence. I would see my clothes not fitting since I used to be (100 pounds) and I’m 116 now. 

“I had to get used to it and see how tiny I was at 46 kg when I post new photos on social media. I look a little bigger but I don’t look huge. When you’re not used to seeing yourself a certain way you start asking, ‘What’s wrong with me?’

“Girls go through that. I was ripped at 46 kg and I lost my muscle. I have to accept that I’m growing and it’s natural and it’s ok to get bigger because the weight that I’m gaining isn’t unhealthy. It’s a healthy weight because you need to grow.” 

“I went through that phase of ‘Am I good enough?’ ‘Am I strong enough?’ ‘Am I the best anymore?’ 

“As a female wrestler, it sounds kind of weird, but when I look in the mirror I ask, ‘Am I beautiful? Going into the 2023 World Team Trials I was like, “Do I even want to wrestle? Do I love this sport anymore?”

No Turning Back

Gomez was eliminated in the Round of 16 at the 2023 U17 World Team Trials and was disqualified during a controversial quarterfinal match at this year’s U20 World Team Trials. Despite several setbacks, the prep star has built an impressive career thus far, including two Who’s Number One appearances. 

More than wins and losses, Gomez — a self-described natural leader — will be defined by what she does with her talents and how she affects others. That’s her new goal as she strives to make a positive impact. 

“We go through it,” Gomez said. “Women’s wrestlers go through it. It’s not easy. Men go through it, too. It’s not an easy sport. You have to be mentally and physically ready for this. 

“The women’s wrestling community is so amazing. You’ll have wrestlers that you’ve faced commenting on your stuff and saying you’re beautiful. That’s so empowering to me. 

“I’ve been on the top and I’ve been on the bottom. I know what it’s like from both perspectives. Coming into this senior year, I don’t care. I’m going all out. I’ll be back in 2025.”