Newport wrestler Leilani Akiyama shooting for history

The dream is daunting.

For any high-school wrestler, the journey to Mat Classic is full of potholes and pins, full of calisthenics and counting calories.

But for Leilani Akiyama, the road that leads to the Tacoma Dome today has been an uphill climb. The 112-pounder from Newport has faced a lot of obstacles to become the finest female wrestler in the state and qualify for the Class 3A state wrestling tournament for the second straight year.

But Akiyama dismisses the suggestion that she is anything special as quickly as she makes an escape move on the mat. She would rather be thought of as a good wrestler, not "that girl wrestler."

"It's not that big of a deal," said the 5-foot-4 Akiyama, an international judo champion. "It's just another person in the sport."

Never mind that she's the only female who will be wrestling at Mat Classic XVI. Forget that Akiyama is only the third girl to qualify for state or that she went 1-2 there last year.

None of that really matters, because Akiyama wants more. She has her sights set on wrestling tomorrow, her 17th birthday, which means she has to win two matches today. She hopes to ultimately place in the top eight, and then shoot for the top prize as a senior: a state championship.

"That's a dream of every wrestler," Akiyama said.

Male or female.

Unlike her male counterparts, Akiyama wasn't immediately accepted as a freshman at Newport in Bellevue. She endured some disapproving looks and outright dismissals. Some opponents refused to wrestle her. And Akiyama just as stubbornly refused to let skepticism or sexism take her down.

She's showing the same determination this week.

"I just want to give it my all and try my best and never give up," she said. "I know it's going to be a tough tournament, but if I give it my all, it will turn out good."

It was been an excellent season thus far for Akiyama, who says her record is 19-4. She became the first girl to win a KingCo 3A championship and bounced back from a double-overtime loss in the Region II semifinals to clinch another state berth, ultimately finishing fourth.

Akiyama's mental toughness comes from years of competitive judo, which she first took up at age 7 while living in Japan with her mother, Mariko, and older brother, Jimmy. Soon after, the family moved to Bellevue, and both Leilani and Jimmy began studying at the U.S. Judo Training Center under John Holm, who is now their stepfather.

By age 9, Leilani had captured three national age-group judo titles. She now has won 21 national and 10 international crowns, is currently ranked No. 2 for U.S. senior women at 114 pounds and is a candidate to make the U.S. Olympic team this summer.

Akiyama said judo and wrestling complement each other. Judo helps her with balance, agility and throwing techniques. Wrestling has added strength.

"I'm a lot stronger than a lot of girls I go against in judo," she said.

Akiyama enjoys both sports, but wrestling has wrestled her heart away.

"I like wrestling better," she said. "I haven't thought much about judo for a long time."

Still, Akiyama attends judo practice each day, after wrestling practice. She runs during her lunch breaks at school. She has earned the respect of teammates and opponents alike.

But it wasn't always that way.

When she made the Newport varsity team as a freshman, several opponents forfeited rather than wrestle her. Akiyama was disappointed, but not devastated.

"It was kind of understandable," she said. "They're a guy, and it would be embarrassing to lose to a girl."

Fewer took that route her sophomore year, and this season she has not had anyone refuse to wrestle.

"I don't think they think it's any different (than wrestling a boy) anymore," Akiyama said. "It's not that big of a deal to them."

It never seemed to be a big deal to her Newport teammates, thanks to brother Jimmy. Two years older, he started bringing Leilani to Newport practices when she was in eighth grade.

"She was always just Jimmy's little sister," Newport coach Michael Chenoweth said.

A little sister who could put some big-time moves on opponents.

"She was better than the average guy," Chenoweth said.

Now, Akiyama is just another teammate. Another good teammate.

"She's just someone else who beats them up in practice," said Chenoweth.

He has also noticed acceptance among most opponents.

"It used to be people saying, 'Oh, my, I've got to wrestle a girl,' " he said. "Now they're used to it. They don't dodge her any more and forfeit. She's not a novelty anymore."

Just another wrestler daring to dream about becoming a champion.

Sandy Ringer: sringer@seattletimes.com