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At just 17, Olivia DeLaCruz has already left her mark on Lansing Eastern High’s wrestling program quietly, confidently, and with unwavering dedication.
Competing in the 115-120 pound division, Olivia isn’t just one of the few girls on the team, she’s one of its most driven competitors. Now a junior, she’s no stranger to the grind. Her journey into wrestling began with a simple spark of inspiration from her brother. Watching him step onto the mat lit something in her. The rest, as they say, is history.
Capping off her junior season, she wrestled her way to her third straight trip to Ford Field representing the Lansing Eastern Quakers. On her way she claimed the Don Johnson Invitational Championship, was District Runner-up and finished the season with a 28-8 record at States.
“I just wanted to try it,” she said about starting wrestling at a young age. “It was tough at first, but I stuck with it.”
That determination has carried her far. In her freshman year, Olivia qualified for the state tournament, an achievement that caught even her by surprise.
“It was never my goal,” she admits with a laugh. “But it became one after that.”
Like many wrestlers, Olivia has battled through injuries and the brutal reality of cutting weight. Her training weeks are a mix of conditioning, technique drills, and live wrestling. Through it all, she credits her coaches, especially Lansing Eastern Head Coach Arnold Pulliam, as her biggest influences.
“Coach always says, ‘Treat them like a freshman,’” she says, referencing his philosophy on staying humble and grounded. “What I admire most about him is his integrity.”
Back on the mat this season, Olivia was full of anticipation. She describes the team’s energy as focused and determined, with a collective drive to improve. “Everyone’s putting in the effort. We’re developing as a team,” she said.
Off the mat, Olivia is just as thoughtful. A fan of English class, she enjoys writing and reading, interests that might seem at odds with the intensity of wrestling, but that speak to her reflective nature. “Being a student-athlete has made me bolder,” she says. “It’s given me confidence.”
And confidence is essential in a sport as tough as wrestling. Olivia doesn’t sugarcoat it: “You have to be ready. It’s a hard sport.” Her advice to newcomers? “Definitely make sure you’re up for it.”
Her go-to move is the classic double-leg takedown, a staple in wrestling, but executed with a sharpness that comes from years of practice. She doesn’t recall her first match, but she vividly remembers the feeling of winning: the cheers, the support, and the sense of accomplishment.
“I am a huge supporter of girls wrestling,” said Camryn Jackson, Lansing Eastern Hall of Fame Athlete and wrestling State Champion. “It’s really amazing seeing it grow. I am a big supporter of Olivia Delacruz. I think she is amazing. She has a tenacious style, quick, fast and she reminds me of myself and she honestly in my opinion is better and has a work ethic that is slim to none and a very intelligent person, big-time.”
When asked what her walkout music would be if wrestling had entrances like boxing or MMA, Olivia doesn’t hesitate in saying “The opening of Da Da Dan,” is her choice because It’s bold, energetic, just like her style on the mat.
Outside of school and wrestling, Olivia finds joy in simple things like writing, nature, and meals at McAllister’s or Olive Garden. Her dream school is the University of Michigan, and if she could travel anywhere, it would be somewhere peaceful and scenic, she said.
Wrestling might be an individual sport, but for Olivia DeLaCruz, it’s also about the team, the discipline, and the growth that comes with pushing yourself every day.
And in her quiet way, she’s already leading by example.
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