Everest Leydecker AZ – A True Student of the Sport

By Bill X. Barron

Experienced mountaineers say the summit is in the climb. Reaching the highest points requires discipline, diligence, and determination. In Everest Leydecker's ascent to the international mountaintop of women's freestyle wrestling, these truths are self-evident.

In 2022, Everest won the USA Folkstyle Nationals and Fargo freestyle, becoming the first girl to win an Arizona middle school boys' state championship. She secured double gold at the 2024 Pan Am Games in U17 and U20 57 kg. She has also won four consecutive Who’s Number 1 championships.

“Kayla (Miracle) prepared me mentally and physically for the 2025 U20 World Championships in Bulgaria.” At welterweight (57 kg), Everest scored three straight technical falls over Greece’s Evdoxia Papadopoulou, Japan’s So Tsutsui, and Turkey’s Tuba Demir. In the championship finals, Reena Reena from India scored the only points against gold medalist Leydecker in a 10-2 decision.

“In my formative years, I appreciated RMN Events because their tournaments allowed me to double-bracket. I wanted to get as many matches as possible. Everest twice competed in the RMN Freak Show 15U division, finishing 2nd in 2021 and winning the championship in 2022.”

Now a senior at Valiant College Prep in Phoenix, AZ, a private day school, she has several experienced coaches who train her, including Angel Cejudo (4-time undefeated Arizona state champion), Mike Douglas (junior college national champion), Kayla Miracle (4-time WCWA champion and Olympian), and Adrian Cordova (2-time Colorado high school state champion). 

Before Valiant, Everest attended Desert Vista High School in Tempe, AZ. There, she was coached by David Gonzalez, the state chair for Arizona USA Wrestling.

“As a leader and teammate, Everest recognizes that her work ethic is what earns her credibility with those who observe her success,” appraises Gonzalez. “She leads by example, and her humble attitude shows she is just another person on the team.”

Coach Angel Cejudo has been with Valiant since its founding eight years ago by co-founders Mike Douglas and Eric Larkin. One of Angel’s early coaching efforts was at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, where he prepared his brother Henry to become the youngest American (age 21) to win Olympic gold in wrestling at 55 kg in 2008.

Angel highlights six core principles of the wrestling program’s philosophy for developing well-rounded athletes – principles that have been key in shaping the culture in which Everest Leydecker has thrived and become Valiant’s first world champion, with more to come.

The first essential goal is to develop athletes who are self-driven and are the first to hold themselves accountable. 

Cites Cejudo, “Athletes are expected to take ownership of their training rather than rely on constant coach direction. Their motivation to train must come from within. Coaches open the doors and create the environment, but athletes must do the work and hold themselves responsible.

“Our preference is to begin with elementary school kids, so they evolve within our system instead of bringing in wrestlers from other clubs and states. Culture is best when it's created from Ground Zero.”

Everest participates in Coach Adrian Cordova’s wrestling “class” at 6 p.m. following the regular practice. When they go one-on-one, they push each other to the limit. If she gets on top, her leg lace can be applied with unbearable pressure. Adrian says that Everest “makes it fun by talking trash that only makes us go that much harder.”

The second core guideline followed by Valiant’s coaching staff is to support their wrestlers’ decision-making without micromanaging. 

“Thereby, our coaches avoid giving step-by-step technique explanations,” elaborates Cejudo. “I don't believe in giving them the answers. I believe in guiding them to find their own solution. The objective is for athletes to solve problems and be creative, not just copy techniques.”

Coach Gonzalez observes that “Everest maintained a positive attitude every time she entered the wrestling room because she knew each day was an opportunity to improve and narrow the gap with her competitors that she was aiming to surpass. 

Coach Miracle’s perspective is that “Everest is so eager to work and train that she sometimes overworks herself, which can lead to injury and delay her progress. Everest has started to compromise with me by listening to her body and what it needs each day. This is a sign of her maturing as an athlete.”

Thirdly, Valiant coaches focus on technique and prioritize versatility over simply enduring hardship. 

Angel notes, “Success is defined by being technically superior and comfortable in several positions, not just being tougher or stronger. They're going to win because they're technically superior when they're comfortable in many positions. That’s our strength.”

“It was special to compete alongside Everest and chase our dreams together as her teacher, coach, and teammate,” expresses Kayla. “I remember before the US Open, she asked if she should do the challenge tournament if she did well at the Open and qualified. I made it very clear that she was capable of doing more than just qualifying at the Open. 

“I told her she should believe in herself as much as we did because I knew before the Open that she was a candidate for the Senior World Team spot; she just had to prove it to herself. And she did just that!”

Fourth, wrestlers must embrace mistakes as inseparable from growth. 

“As Olympic Champion Jordan Burroughs has shared,” Angel relates, “wins and losses are best treated as part of the same learning process.” 

“Everest is always working,” proclaims Coach Adrian Cordova. “She doesn’t take any breaks. Everyone else in the room understands that if they put in the work, it will all pay off.”

"Win or lose, at the end of the day, the lessons go into the same bag. Emphasize the learning over any single result,” states Cejudo. “In our practice room, athletes aren’t punished for getting scored on while trying new skills; mistakes are expected and corrected, not criticized.”

Cites Miracle, “Valiant's room creates an environment where athletes feel safe to make mistakes. In a way, we're like Bob Ross: there are no mistakes, only happy accidents!

”I love the moments when I see Everest do something so unorthodox and can ask her why she does it that way or how she feels while doing it. Then, she asks me where I go from that same position and why I do what I do.”

Her coach at Desert Vista adds, “Everest’s wrestling skills grew rapidly as she sought daily challenges both in the practice room and in competitions. She wrestled against both boys and girls to gain experience and improve her abilities.”

Valiant’s fifth core belief is to value creativity and to help each individual find the style that best matches their unique gifts. 

Coach Cejudo asserts, “Athletes are given targets, not scripts. Here's where I want you to get. How will you get there? Where, when, and how are completely up to you. We encourage them to find their own solutions to moves instead of duplicating another’s technique."

Kayla agrees: “We explore different positions with high-level partners and discover what works best for us as individuals. Each athlete has a unique body type, skill set, and style, so what works for one might not work for another.”

The Valiant wrestling environment emphasizes finding individual wrestling positions and self-discovery through a Socratic process. “Rather than focus on a specific technique, they allow us to discover what works best for us. If I ask for clarification, they do not give me a direct answer,” Everest relates. “Truly, only you can determine the outcome in wrestling.”

“We spend a lot of time on specific positions, letting the kids work through them together to find their best solution. Everest excels at this,” states Miracle. “She has such a creative mind when it comes to wrestling! I feel like every time I watch her work through a new position, I see something I never thought of before. 

“We always try both approaches with open minds and often end up making adjustments to our own techniques influenced by each other. She is someone who will continually help others evolve and improve their wrestling because she offers such a unique perspective.”

Finally, coaches train athletes to connect their wrestling into a smooth and natural flow of movement from one situation to the next.

Explains Angel, “Our approach is based on broad preparation. It’s designed to handle any situation they may face; it’s not specific to any opponent. The staff avoids heavy game-planning for a single opponent and instead focuses on developing complete skill sets.

"Overall, ‘well-rounded’ here means self-motivated, technically evolved, adaptable, and mentally resilient, developed in an environment that encourages exploration rather than fear of mistakes.”

“Our athletes compete at levels that challenge them and push them to keep improving as they see the next-tier athletes,” proclaims Miracle. “Everest is already competing at the same level as the top female wrestlers in our country. She proved that with a US Open finals appearance and a Final X appearance as a junior in high school!” 

Coach Gonzalez remains part of Everest’s support network. “Everest is just a joy to be around; she is so lighthearted and lives in the moment. She enjoys her successes for what they are at the time and understands that her hard work and sacrifices have contributed to the accolades she is receiving. 

“Everest is a true student of wrestling and enjoys being around her teammates, building success with them as well as her own.”

“The sport of wrestling means everything to me,” reflects Everest. “Most of my daily actions are directed toward improving my wrestling. It has taught me the value of discipline, the meaning of hard work, and the importance of dedication.”