There is a lot of work and preparation that successful athletes have to do in order to be ready to compete.

McKinsey Dougherty is a member of the Chickasha High School wrestling team and she says that although the work can be tough at times, she sees her improvement as a motivation to continue.

“It’s taken a really long time just working hard and never giving up,” she said. “I just keep that mindset that I will win. One thing that helps me keep working is just seeing the improvement I’ve made in the past two years makes me want to continue what I am doing.”

A freshman at Chickasha, Dougherty is also a member of the school’s cheer team. Throughout her life, she has had some impactful people that have helped her become who she is. But she has one person that has been an inspiration to her.

“I really look up to my brother Brayden Dougherty,” McKinsey stated. “Seeing him wrestle as hard as he can on the mats and him getting two knee surgeries, going back onto the mat just makes me want to do better for him and show him I can be as good as him.”

Throughout her career, Dougherty has been able to make some great memories on the mat and with her teammates off the mat.

A wrestler that McKinsey looks up to is Oklahoma State University’s Daton Fix. She says that his toughness is something that she respects. “I love how he wrestles and never gives up on hard matches and keeps on striving to win.”