With her hand raised high and a huge smile on her face, four-year varsity wrestler Margot Royston made history, securing her 100th varsity win and becoming the first female wrestler at Lamar to reach the milestone. The moment marked a significant part of her journey, which began freshman year when Coach Sawyer recruited her while making popcorn — “It’s honestly crazy that that’s how it started,” laughed Royston. What began as a casual offseason outlet from softball — “just simply looking for a way to stay active,” she expressed — soon became a defining part of her high school experience, shaping her confidence and making her a stronger individual and athlete. 

Going into her first senior match at districts, with about 99 wins under her belt— “though it’s more like 120-130 wins, as we’d just learned forfeits count, which I hadn’t been keeping track of.” mentioned Royston — she was positive the milestone was within reach.  

Although facing an unfamiliar opponent did bring up some nerves. “I hadn’t wrestled her before, so I was a bit stressed at first; however, after talking to another opponent I had beaten who also beat her, I felt pretty confident,” she admitted. 

At the start of the match, Royston began her usual pre-match routine — jumping three times, walking to the table, preparing mentally, the whole nine yards. “Some of it’s required,” she noted with a laugh, “but some of it’s just my own silly superstitions.” 

Once the match began, Royston immediately shot for her opponent’s right leg, securing an early takedown and gaining control of the match. After working a half-nelson and battling for a while, she earned the pin just a minute and a half into the match, marking her 100th varsity win. 

“The moment I turned and faced the crowd, I couldn’t stop smiling,” Royston recalled. “I felt super proud.” Combined with the wild cheering of her family and friends in the stands, the atmosphere was filled with excitement. Not only had Royston won her 100th match, but she also proved to herself and others just how determined and capable she was — something that did not go unnoticed and soon led to another surprise. 

Later that day, Royston was named the district’s Most Outstanding Female Wrestler. “I knew about the 100 wins, but I had no idea about that award,” she grinned. “That was a welcome surprise.” 

For Royston, wrestling’s impact extends beyond the 100th win — “though it is a nice bonus,” she joked. The sport helped her rebuild her confidence during a difficult period in softball when she struggled with a bad case of the Y-I-P-S, which according to her brings bad luck upon simply saying the name. 

“My brain would stop me from throwing the ball back to the pitcher,” she explained. “I was getting extremely discouraged and even considered quitting. However, wrestling, specifically winning, helped me remain positive and build my confidence.” The newfound sport even strengthened her performance in softball with its rigorous training, helping to improve power, agility and endurance. As Royston put it, “If you’re in wrestling shape, you’re in the best shape of your life.” 

Although wrestling may be her second sport, the journey to 100 wins helped shape her into a stronger athlete and teammate. “Some athletic advice I would give is to try wrestling,” she recommended, “if you don’t like it, quit, but at least try it. The community is amazing, you’ll get stronger, build confidence, etc.; there’s just so many positives to wrestling.”