Alyssa Gonzalez will go down in history as one of the best wrestlers – male or female – Benicia High has ever had. Now the senior is ready to take her wrestling skills to the mat at the college level.

BENICIA’S ALYSSA GONZALEZ signs her scholarship offer to wrestle for McKendree University in Illinois.

Gonzalez, a perennial champion in the Solano County Athletic Conference and a near-champion at the state level, agreed to a nearly full-ride athletic/academic scholarship Wednesday to wrestle for McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill., after graduation.

“There’s no stress right now,” said a relieved Gonzalez after signing her scholarship offer. “It feels good.”

Gonzalez wrestled all four years at Benicia High, finishing third in the state in her weight class in 2013 and finishing second at state this year. She’s glad her wrestling career is continuing and still has more to achieve.

“In the beginning, I wrestled just because I liked wrestling,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t think I would get a big scholarship. But then it became more serious as I got older. I obviously didn’t accomplish everything I wanted to, but that just continues to make me drive for more in college.”

McKendree University just completed its first season of women’s wrestling. Head coach Sam Schmitz saw Gonzalez wrestle at Nationals last summer and knew talent when he saw it.

“He was the last coach I met and I liked him a lot,” Gonzalez said of Schmitz. “And my friend goes there and I’ve heard nothing but good things about the school. I talked to counselors and did a lot of research on the school. They gave a good scholarship and were my No. 1.”

Former Benicia High teammate Forrest Molinari – an outstanding wrestler in her own right – is currently wrestling at Missouri Baptist University, about 40 miles away from McKendree.

“I’m excited,” Gonzalez said. “I want to leave California for a little bit. I’m going to have to get a lot stronger to compete at the college level so I’m gonna start lifting weights a lot more and keep improving my technique.”

Gonzalez plans to study Optometry at McKendree University.

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