Wrestler takes state title; follows sister's footsteps

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DRAPER — Yvette “Star” Vargas, a Juan Diego Catholic High School junior, is continuing what her father Vincent hopes will be a family tradition: she recently took the 1A/2A/3A state title in her weight class in UHSSA wrestling at the state tournament Feb. 17 at the Sevier Valley Center.

“Star did well throughout the whole season,” said Zac Petereit, JDCHS wrestling coach. “She took first at every tournament she went to. At state she pinned everybody. The longest match was two and a half minutes long, so she’s quick.”

Star, 16, is following in the footsteps of her sister Belle, who last year brought home a state title for Juan Diego.

Star first began wrestling at the age of 8 in El Paso, Texas, after her father enrolled her younger brothers in wrestling classes.

“It looked fun,” she said. Before long, her older sister joined her.

Vincent Vargas grew up in the boxing world and taught combative techniques in the military.

“I realized very early on that wrestling is such a good foundation for anyone, whether it be for bully-proofing or for confidence,” he said.

Vincent Vargas was a single father when he enrolled his sons in wrestling classes, so he told his girls he couldn’t leave the boys, then 4 and 6, at wrestling to run them to practices for other sports or activities.

“‘So, you’re welcome to come to the mat, or we can find something after the wrestling season,’ I told them,’” he said. “Star got tired of watching and decided to just jump in.”

Vargas signed Star up for her wrestling card on a Thursday; on Friday she did a weigh in and on Saturday she participated in her first meet, where she won, he said.

“We knew there was something very different about her heart and her grit on the mat,” Vargas said.

When the family moved to Utah five years ago, the sisters began wrestling with Champions Wrestling. Star took time off from wrestling last year but decided to get back to the sport for the 2021-22 school year.

“I love it,” she said. “It gets your head away from everything else.”

Star’s love of the sport is accompanied by a commitment that gets her through five practices a week of at least two hours each. She encourages other girls to get involved in the sport.

“What do they have to lose?” she asked. “It gets you in shape; it’s a really good community; it’s fun.”

Although they are both champions, the sisters have very different wrestling styles, their father said. While Belle chose to be more intimidating, “Star to me was technically sound and every move you could think of she was performing,” he said. “Star is going to tough you; she’s going to outwork you; she’s not going to quit. The grit that she had at 8 years old, my sons don’t have it, my oldest daughter didn’t have it. It was a different thing.

“Star learned a lot of new moves this year,” Vargas said. “She has a full bag of tricks that the new coaching staff taught her. I feel she is so much more confident on the mat. She knows she can take it anywhere she needs to go.”

With six younger siblings, five brothers and a sister, Belle and Star’s legacy is likely to continue.

“Everybody goes to wrestling practice,” Vincent Vargas said. “Not everyone competes, but they go, and they learn. Even our 2-year-old is on the mat, learning and watching. We’ve found it’s a very powerful tool for the kids to grow confidence.”