Miesha Tate

I just think they had the preconceived notion that most people had at that time that this was not a sport for women. Women didn't belong. They couldn't hang. They couldn't do it. It was too tough. And so they just threw me in with the best wrestlers on the team, me having never wrestled a day in my life. And it was very clear to me they just wanted to get me out of there.

I just think they had the preconceived notion that most people had at that time that this was not a sport for women. Women didn't belong. They couldn't hang. They couldn't do it. It was too tough. And so they just threw me in with the best wrestlers on the team, me having never wrestled a day in my life. And it was very clear to me they just wanted to get me out of there.

They know the strength and conditioning was brutal and it was so difficult. And I remember after my first practice being like, I loved, I was not good at it, but I loved it. And I, and I think that, I had this thought of law of diminishing return. I didn't know that that's what it was called at the time. I was just 15. But I remember thinking, I'm going to get better at this if I keep showing up.

They know the strength and conditioning was brutal and it was so difficult. And I remember after my first practice being like, I loved, I was not good at it, but I loved it. And I, and I think that, I had this thought of law of diminishing return. I didn't know that that's what it was called at the time. I was just 15. But I remember thinking, I'm going to get better at this if I keep showing up.

I'm so bad now. I have to be able to get better fast. So I just got to show up and work really hard. And I did all four years. And then I ended up winning the Coach's Award my senior year, which has kind of given out to one athlete that embodies what it means to be a team player and a wrestler. And Wow.

I'm so bad now. I have to be able to get better fast. So I just got to show up and work really hard. And I did all four years. And then I ended up winning the Coach's Award my senior year, which has kind of given out to one athlete that embodies what it means to be a team player and a wrestler. And Wow.

Because, you know, going from a team that really just didn't want you there to being somebody who was recognized as, as, you know, a role model type example of what a wrestler embodies and being a female and capturing that was amazing. To this date, probably one of my biggest accomplishments. And it led me right into MMA. I went to college. I went to Central Washington University.

Because, you know, going from a team that really just didn't want you there to being somebody who was recognized as, as, you know, a role model type example of what a wrestler embodies and being a female and capturing that was amazing. To this date, probably one of my biggest accomplishments. And it led me right into MMA. I went to college. I went to Central Washington University.

And my friend, Rosalia, was like, hey, do you want to come out and check out this mixed martial arts club sport? And I was like, no way. I'm like, not at all. I don't do karate. First of all, that's what I thought it was. I was so ignorant. And I was like, and I have zero desire to hit anybody in the face, much less get hit in the face. It just sounds terrible. Like count me. I am not in.

And my friend, Rosalia, was like, hey, do you want to come out and check out this mixed martial arts club sport? And I was like, no way. I'm like, not at all. I don't do karate. First of all, that's what I thought it was. I was so ignorant. And I was like, and I have zero desire to hit anybody in the face, much less get hit in the face. It just sounds terrible. Like count me. I am not in.

And she came back the next day and was like, Misha, you've got to come and check it out. I know you'll love it. It's all these former high school wrestlers and college wrestlers and you're going to love it. And I was like, all right, fine. So I went and on my very first day, I learned how to choke people. And I guess the rest is history.

And she came back the next day and was like, Misha, you've got to come and check it out. I know you'll love it. It's all these former high school wrestlers and college wrestlers and you're going to love it. And I was like, all right, fine. So I went and on my very first day, I learned how to choke people. And I guess the rest is history.

I honestly don't think that it was – that that was the thought because I was so terrible. I mean, I had never wrestled a day in my life. Now, I could see that happening for females that maybe wrestled since they were little, very young at that time. You know, there were – some lucky, lucky girls that had families that had older brothers.

I honestly don't think that it was – that that was the thought because I was so terrible. I mean, I had never wrestled a day in my life. Now, I could see that happening for females that maybe wrestled since they were little, very young at that time. You know, there were – some lucky, lucky girls that had families that had older brothers.

So I don't think I was a threat to anybody. Not at first, but I definitely, by my senior year, I remember there was this one kid, his name was Jacob, and he was a really good wrestler. And I remember getting in some battles with him my senior year and, and him like losing his temper because I was not winning, but I was just, I was forcing him to work. And I don't think he even liked that.

So I don't think I was a threat to anybody. Not at first, but I definitely, by my senior year, I remember there was this one kid, his name was Jacob, and he was a really good wrestler. And I remember getting in some battles with him my senior year and, and him like losing his temper because I was not winning, but I was just, I was forcing him to work. And I don't think he even liked that.

Like I was really forcing him to work. you know, beat minus P's and Q's or I was going to get that reversal or I was going to get, you know, and I just remember him cross-facing me so hard and just like, just being like a mean, like aggressive mean, like really lost his temper and just,

Like I was really forcing him to work. you know, beat minus P's and Q's or I was going to get that reversal or I was going to get, you know, and I just remember him cross-facing me so hard and just like, just being like a mean, like aggressive mean, like really lost his temper and just,

almost to the point where I realized that I was getting into a battle of physicality with somebody who was physically stronger than me, who was on the verge of really trying to injure me. And I remember in that moment, I had to be like, okay, you know what? I'm just going to back down, relax. This isn't a match that I need to win. Like gym wars, you know what I mean? It was a gym war.

almost to the point where I realized that I was getting into a battle of physicality with somebody who was physically stronger than me, who was on the verge of really trying to injure me. And I remember in that moment, I had to be like, okay, you know what? I'm just going to back down, relax. This isn't a match that I need to win. Like gym wars, you know what I mean? It was a gym war.