Stephanie Diaz wins the semifinal match of the 2025 N.C. women’s wrestling state tournament. Photo by Marcello Luftig
When senior Stephanie Diaz-Mendoza stepped onto the mat this season, she wasn’t just defending her state wrestling title. She was changing what the sport looks like for future wrestlers on the team.
Diaz finished the 2025-26 season with a 29-1 record and won her second state championship. But for some teammates, her impact goes far beyond her wins.
Sophomore Isabelle Richie said she first learned about Riverside’s program because of Diaz-Mendoza’s success.
“I heard that she was the state champ,” Richie said. “They were also passing out QR codes in classrooms to sign up, but hearing about Stephanie definitely helped me find out about the team.”
Before joining wrestling this year, Richie had been involved with kickboxing for five years, and jiu-jitsu for two, but Diaz-Mendoza’s reputation helped spark her interest in trying out.
To her teammates, Diaz-Mendoza stands out for both her personality and her ability on the mat.
“[Stephanie is] Brave, emotional (in a good way) and strong,” Richie described. “I think she’s probably the strongest person on the wrestling team.”
Richie explained that Diaz-Mendoza balances two sides of herself – aggressive and competitive – during matches, yet kind toward her competitors afterward.
“She’s really nice, but she’s also kind of mean on the mat,” Richie said. “She’s not afraid to win really hard, but she’s really nice to her competitors afterwards.”
Her presence has also shaped the team’s environment at practices and matches.
According to Richie, Diaz-Mendoza’s championship has given teammates a boost of confidence.
“I think she’s the best wrestler on the team, and it gives a lot of other people courage,” she said. “It gets everyone more pumped up.”
Beyond victories, Diaz-Mendoza has helped make space for girls in a sport where they have often been underrepresented and often underestimated.
“She’s kind of made a place for women on the wrestling team,” Richie said. “Before this year, I’m pretty sure she was the only girl. I think she’ll leave a lot more room for girls that weren’t there before.”
As Diaz-Mendoza prepares to graduate this spring, her absence will be felt by her teammates on both the wrestling mat and the soccer field.
“There will be big shoes to fill,” said soccer coach Sarah Cade Holland, “she brings a level of enthusiasm and experience for whatever sport she’s competing in.”
