Richardson Wins Wrestling State Championship

Kanata Richardson (grade 11) made history last year as the first Bloomfield Hills High School female wrestler to compete in the Michigan State Championship. Richardson did it again, but this year, the determined athlete took home the top prize! BHHS’s championship wrestler was introduced to the sport early in middle school and has experienced success ever since. The 2024-25 season highlight for Richardson includes winning the semi-final match at States. “It was a huge mental battle for me, and I worked very hard to overcome it,” said Richardson.

All athletes experience challenges, and Richardson is no exception, describing, “At the start of the season, I was recovering from an ACL tear. I worked very hard to gain the strength back in my knee and build confidence in myself to step back on the mat.” This is an excellent example of Richardson modeling their own guidance. When interviewed last year, Richardson offered advice for any athletes looking to get into the challenging sport of wrestling: “You have to persevere and embrace the struggle. Stick to it and just keep going.” 

To prepare for the challenges of this season, Richardson put in more effort than ever before. There were no shortcuts in gym workouts, drilling wrestling techniques, running sprints, or pushing harder each day. Richardson's next objective is to compete in the national tournament in Fargo while continuing to enhance techniques and skills. After high school, Richardson aims to either wrestle at the collegiate level or join the military. Bloomfield Hills Schools takes pride in Richardson’s remarkable achievements and looks forward to celebrating more wins in the future!