By Shaia Culligan
One of the wrestlers on the Benicia High varsity wrestling team, who has done phenomenal this season is Sloane Knighton. Sloane Knighton is 15 years old, in ninth grade, and has been wrestling for 5 years.
Something Sloane likes about wrestling is the community she has built, such as the people she hangs out with during practices and tournaments. Sloane stays motivated to keep wrestling by pushing through the losses and taking in the really good wins.
This school year, Sloane has built a record of 15-3, fifteen wins and only 3 losses. One of her biggest accomplishments is either getting 2nd at state and winning her women’s bracket in January 2026 or getting a champion belt.
When asked about wrestling’s recognition and if it deserves more recognition, she stated, “Women’s wrestling is growing but it does not get the same attention as boys wrestling, so I feel like we do deserve more recognition.”
One of the Benicia High wrestling coaches, Mauricio Wright says, “I’ve had the fortune of being one of Sloane’s coaches since she was in elementary school, every year we see her progress. Sloane is bit of a quiet leader but I can see the potential for her to become one of our most vocal leaders”
He also says, “Sloane won the prestigious Brtittany David invite at Liberty High School in Brentwood.” He says even though the tournament had many returning North Coast section qualifiers from the former season, she still had an amazing performance. Coach Wright says if she continues to work hard and increase her efforts, “We could have another freshman state qualifier”
Some upcoming matches you can see Sloane in are at the girls wrestling scramble at Ygnacio Valley High School on January 13, and the girls wrestling scramble at Northgate on January 27.
beniciapaw.com 