Jaslynn Gallegos oversees a girls wrestling camp at Brighton High School, her alma mater. She also wrestled on the boys team at Skyview High School.

Steve Smith

Former Skyview High School wrestler and Brighton High School student Jaslynn Gallegos has plans – big plans – for her future.

One of them is a national title in women’s wrestling through her new school, North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Gallegos transferred from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. She’s majoring in psychology and aiming for a slot in either clinical or sports psychology.

Another goal is to qualify for the Olympic trials, win the trials and represent her country at the Olympics, and it started because of her older brother.

“My older brother, who is about two years older than me, started at a young age, and I would sit on the sides watching,” she said. “One day when I was about five, I jumped in and never stopped.”

Gallegos doesn’t remember a time when her friends didn’t know she was a wrestler.

“When I meet new people, they are usually very excited when I’ve told them my accolades,” she said.

Those include all-American honors through the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (she won the southeast regional tournament). Seven of her 14 wins last season were by pinfall. She won two matches at the U.S. Olympic trials.

In the 2019-2020 season, she won 25 of 28 matches, including the title at the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association national meet, which earned her a spot at the Olympic trials. At Skyview High School, she earned three varsity letters while competing on the boys wrestling team. She also was the first female to place at the boys state tournament (she was fifth). She also was the first girl to place at the first girls state wrestling tournament.

“I’ve played many sports since a young age. My main three were wrestling, soccer and softball, but I’ve also played basketball, volleyball, track, cross country. I even tried taekwondo as a kid,” she said. “I love all sports, as I am very competitive.”

There is one accomplishment that stands out.

“I think taking fifth at worlds and going to the Olympic trials are my favorite accomplishments,” Gallegos said. “They kind of reflect how hard I work.”

Gallegos has competed internationally, too.

“There’s a difference between high school and college for girls/women, but not for college and international,” she said. “Those are both freestyle. I don’t think I had a hard time competing away from home per se, as I have traveled to different stats to compete from a young age. It was a bit weird without my dad being able to be in my corner every time, though.”

She was in Brighton for a two-day clinic early in August (BHS is about to field its first girls wrestling team), then made a stop at Fort Lupton High School the following weekend for another clinic.

“I love being able to pass down the knowledge I’ve gained throughout the years, and being able to help kids is a passion of mine,” Gallegos said. “Next for me short term is a national title and long term is to not just qualify for the Olympic trials, but win them and represent the U.S. at the Olympics. I am super excited to start the season at my college I just transferred to.”