Miamisburg鈥檚 Zammit follows in dad鈥檚 footsteps with first wrestling state title
MIAMISBURG, Ohio (BVM) — Ohio has only had a girls state wrestling tournament for two years. Miamisburg High School鈥檚 Cassia Zammit has competed in both, and has seen great success.
Zammit began her wrestling career at 8 years old with the Miamisburg youth program, following the path of her cousin who also wrestled. Of course, Zammit had some additional family history in the sport as her brothers have all wrestled, as did her dad who was a state champion in high school.
鈥淚 look up a lot to my dad because he was such a good wrestler,鈥� Zammit said. 鈥淗e inspires me to hit the level that he hit and hopefully exceed it.鈥�
Throughout her youth, Zammit developed into a good wrestler, yet often fell just short of winning state championships.
But on the mat at Miamisburg High School, Zammit has changed that narrative and certainly replicated some of her father鈥檚 success at the same time. Last year as a freshman, she had a strong season that led her all the way to the state final match in the inaugural Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association girls state championships.
However, Zammit would yet again fall just short in that match, which became a true motivator for her sophomore season.聽
鈥淭ransferring up to high school, I felt a little defeated and wasn鈥檛 winning as much,鈥� Zammit said. 鈥淏ut I got a lot of good opportunities to make myself better.聽
鈥淚 was really happy to compete at state. Being runner-up, I was not satisfied. I was extremely disappointed and heartbroken. It just brought everything out of me. My training has been 10 times harder and every time I wanted to quit I would just think back to my state finals match and realize how much pain that put me in.鈥�
The added motivation absolutely brought out the best in Zammit. Going into the year, the 15-year-old wanted to go undefeated and win a state championship, and she ended up doing just that.
In the state finals, Zammit made quick work of Wooster High School鈥檚 Sairra Tapp, defeating her 12-1 to claim a state championship in the 131-pound weight class.
鈥淚t was kind of overwhelming,鈥� Zammit said about the state championship. 鈥淚 was just so relieved. I worked my whole career for this one moment and had fallen short so many times in the state finals. Just for my dad to be in the stands watching me and doing it in front of all my coaches, I felt like I finally accomplished something. I was proud of myself and it was just a really nice feeling.鈥�
Of course, now Zammit can say she has matched her teacher and mentor in her father with one state title, and she is proud to do so.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing and it鈥檚 really exciting to be able to keep up with the family tradition,鈥� Zammit said. 鈥淭he main goal was to make him proud. I think I did and I want to keep going and take my journey further.鈥�
As Zammit鈥檚 own wrestling career continues to grow, so does the sport of wrestling amongst girls in Ohio. Zammit hopes her accomplishments can inspire more and more girls to continue to come out for the sport, and is happy she entered high school right as the state instituted an all-girls state tournament.
鈥淭he goal is to inspire other young girls because I would really love to see the sport continue to grow and progress,鈥� Zammit said. 鈥淚 take pride in my wrestling and showing other girls that they can do what they put their mind to and win a state title, too. It鈥檚 not just for guys.
鈥淚鈥檓 really happy that I could be the one to experience state right when I got into high school. I鈥檓 really thankful that I had that opportunity and I鈥檓 hoping that other young girls are going to grow and get the opportunities that some of the older ones didn鈥檛.鈥�
As she continues to grow in the sport, Zammit is also enjoying the team bond she and her Miamisburg teammates have formed. Although wrestling is often seen as an individual competition, she has fully embraced the team aspect of it.
鈥淚鈥檝e grown to like the team aspect of wrestling and how we can all build each other up and make a strong impact,鈥� Zammit explained.
Now with a title under her belt, Zammit is ready to get stronger, better and quite possibly become a multi-time state champion.
鈥淢y goals are to be a three-time state champion,鈥� Zammit said. 鈥淚 would love to have two more undefeated seasons.鈥�
Zammit also hopes she can take her success in the sport beyond high school, potentially making a world team and even wrestling in college someday.
鈥淭he goal is to go to Fargo, make a world team and then go from there,鈥� Zammit added. 鈥淚 want to wrestle in college, win a national championship and then go and win a world one on the USA team. That鈥檚 always been the goal.鈥�
Zammit鈥檚 drive and determination has already led her to new heights, and will continue to take her further in the future. She hopes it can be an inspiration to all athletes, but especially those girls looking at joining wrestling.
鈥淚 would just really push girls to try it,鈥� Zammit said. 鈥淚 would never take back any of the experiences I鈥檝e had, win or lose. It鈥檚 definitely helped me outside of wrestling. It teaches you discipline, you make new friends, and overall, wrestling is just such a good community to be in.鈥�
