A Sharyland High School athlete has signed on to wrestle at Dixie State University, breaking off from family tradition.
Jerilyn “Abby” Peralez signed a letter of intent to attend the Utah-based NCAA Division II school Tuesday. The Lady Trailblazers have just recently added women’s wrestling to their athletic program and Dixie State is in the process of becoming an NCAA Division I University to join the Western Athletic Conference.
Jerilyn “Abby” Peralez (center) surrounded by family and coaches as she signs a national letter of intent to wrestle at Dixie State University Tuesday, June 10, 2020. Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III
“I appreciate everyone being here, hopefully they’ll continue to be there as I compete in college,” Peralez said at her signing ceremony.
Peralez is a 4-year letter winner in wrestling and a four-time regional qualifier and a two-time district champion who qualified to the State Wrestling Tournament in the 95 lb. division this year.
She is also the current SHS Girls MVP in wrestling and plans to study to be a vet.
“She’s the full package, a hard worker,” district Assistant Athletic Director Raul Castillo said. “Any kid that is varsity in two sports and advances to regionals tells you one thing: that kid pretty much knows one speed and that’s going all the way every single time.”
In addition to wrestling, Jerilyn is also a 3-year letter winner in Cross Country and a two-year letter winner in Track and Field. She is also a 3-year Regional Qualifier in Cross Country and qualified to the State Cross Country Meet in 2019, making her have the distinct honor of qualifying to the State Tournament in two different sports.
Peralez said she was offered a cross country scholarship to attend the University of Texas just like her mother, a star cross country athlete. Peralez’s aunt also competed in cross country in college, she said.
“I wanted to break the cross-country line and do something different,” Peralez said. “Dixie State was my second choice but I feel like it’s the right one for me because I want to succeed in wrestling and experience more since college is so different from high school. That contact you have with your opponent and the feeling of taking down an opponent and getting your hand raised is the best feeling ever.”
Castillo and other Sharyland community say they wish Peralez the best on her future endeavors in college.
“Like most of our athletes at Sharyland who go on to participate at the next level, all of them come well prepared and well-rounded and that’s what we’re here to celebrate,” Castillo said. “[Dixie State] is going to get a kid who will do great for them on the wrestling side and the classroom as well.”
