VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — When most people think of wrestling, they think of a male sport. However, many in Virginia Beach think of 11-year-old Mia Williams.
We've told you a version of her story before, but now she is a year older and says she's a lot better.
"So, I've won seven nationals and gotten three Americans," she smiled.
Mia goes to school, then straight to VB Fighthouse in Virginia Beach to train.
"Every day I'm going to practice, I'm working out, I'm trying to be stronger, and I'm trying to have myself prepared for the tournament."
The tournament she's talking about is called the World of Wrestling. It's a series of three separate tournaments. Mia has already competed in two of three and won. Now, she needs one more win to secure a new level of history.
"If I win that, I get the whole Trinity, and the Trinity means you win all three," Mia said.
To secure the Trinity trophy, she must win during the last World of Wrestling tournament in Reno, Nevada. If she wins, she will be the third Virginian, boy or girl, to win the Trinity. Also, if she wins, she will be ranked as the number one wrestler in her age group in the country.
The thing about Mia is that once she puts her mind to something, she does it. So, she is ready to dominate on the mat.
"You can't have any sympathy for them. You just have to go full blast and try your best no matter what," she said.
Mia knows that when she steps onto the mat, people look at her differently. "Before the match, I'll hear them say, 'Oh, I don't want to hurt a girl,' or something like that. Then when I go on the mat and beat them, their faces look so surprised," she laughed.
Mia knows representation matters: "It makes me happy that I can help girls go into sports that only people say boys can do."
While our 13News Now crews were there, another girl who is a friend of Mia's was starting her first day at training. She can see her impact firsthand. However, she's ready to continue battling the boys.
"I have more fun beating up the boys than the girls because I feel like it's harder for me to beat the boys," she nodded. If we are being honest, she makes it look easy.
"When she says she's going to do something, she's going to do it," said Michael Holcomb, the head coach at VB Fighthouse. He has seen her growth over the years. "We haven't scratched the surface."
The last time we spoke to Mia, her goal was to go to the Olympics. When asked if that's still the goal, she smiled wide and said, "It's still the Olympics!"
She then explained she wanted to wrestle her way through high school and college and then represent the United States in the Olympic games.
"I still imagine my hand getting raised on the top of the medal stand and me running to my parents and coaches and me just representing Virginia," she nodded with certainty.
"She hasn't tapped into her full potential. She's got a lot to give right now, and it's exciting," Coach Holcomb added.
Right now, she is still focused on the goal at hand with the Trinity in Reno. "I don't want to be too cocky. I don't want to get over my head and say, 'Oh, I got this in the bag,'" she said.
So, we asked if she was worried that she wouldn't win. Her answer was simple.
"Not really," Mia smiled.
She's confident, but the numerous medals and trophies she's brought home are proof that she has every right to be.
"It makes me feel proud of myself that I just keep going up and up and up in my advancement," she said.
Mia's success is a big deal, but an even bigger deal is that she is opening doors and breaking barriers for others. "The most important thing to me is to keep trying and showing other people and other girls that anything a boy can do, you can do, too."
Mia competes in the World of Wrestling tournament from April 3 to 6. It is a bracket-style tournament. If she makes it to the championship, it will happen on the 6th. To follow Mia along on her journey, you can follow her on Instagram.
For more information on boxing or wrestling classes, you can contact VB Fighthouse.