WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 3) – Freshman women's wrestler Anastasia Curitti (Fernley, Nev. / Coral Academy of Sciences) is already making her presence known at Waynesburg University; on the mat, in the locker room and as a leader well beyond her years. Now in her fourth year of wrestling overall, Curitti's journey into the sport began from simple curiosity.
 
"I just wanted to try something new," Curitti said.
 
With her father having wrestled in high school, the sport was familiar, but her decision to step onto the mat was driven by a desire to test her athleticism. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a passion that continues to shape her life.
 
From the moment Curitti arrived at Waynesburg, head coach Karli Thomas noticed something different about the then-newcomer.
 
"The thing that stood out to me the most about Anastasia in her wrestling style is her ability to wrestle well in every position," Thomas said. "She is a very well-rounded athlete. She is a coachable athlete and wants to learn."
 
Beyond her physical ability, Thomas highlighted Curitti's mindset as one of her greatest strengths.
 
"She has what I call 'short-term memory,'" Thomas explained. "She can go out there, lose a match and that absolutely will not sway her self-confidence and belief to win the next one. She doesn't dwell and that is huge in wrestling."
 
Originally from Nevada, Curitti made the life-changing decision to attend Waynesburg through trust and purpose. Coach Thomas stood out during the recruiting process and Curitti felt strongly that Waynesburg was where she was meant to be.
 
That connection was clear from the start.
 
"Anastasia came to Waynesburg with a great foundation and fundamentals," Thomas said. "But she also came here with an open mind and was ready to learn. She is not afraid of challenges and welcomes them. And she is not afraid of hard work."
 
Adjusting to life so far from home hasn't been easy, but Curitti credits her teammates for helping her through it. The bonds she's formed within the women's wrestling program have created a strong sense of sisterhood, making Waynesburg feel like home.
 
Balancing academics with the demands of college wrestling has been another transition Curitti has handled well. Academically oriented with strong time management skills, she's been able to stay focused in the classroom while navigating the physical and psychological challenges of college competition; especially when it came to learning how her body responds to cutting weight without the routines she relied on back home.
 
Before the season even began, Curitti set goals that reflected both ambition and selflessness: build a sisterhood, help the team grow, qualify for regionals and chase nationals. Those goals aligned perfectly with what she shared during her initial recruiting call.
 
"During our first recruiting call, Anastasia told me she wanted to wrestle in Pennsylvania, help her team grow, make it to nationals, and become a champion," Thomas said. "She came here and has been giving it her all for herself and her team each time she gets on the mat."
 
Those efforts have not gone unnoticed. Waynesburg has qualified for regionals and Curitti has been named one of the team captains as a freshman; an honor she holds with pride.
"She is a very driven and determined person, athletically and academically," Thomas said. "Anastasia has been a huge asset to our team. She is a hard worker, a team player and brings an infectious type of positive energy."
 
On the mat, Curitti has embraced the intensity of college-level wrestling. After wrestling primarily boys in high school, competing against college women felt familiar; but elevated. Pennsylvania's competitive landscape has pushed her to new levels, and she's proud of what she's accomplished so far, while remaining hungry for more.
 
This season has also brought challenges, particularly with weight changes. After wrestling at 110 in high school, Curitti began the season at 117 before moving up to 124. Through it all, she's learned how she responds emotionally and physically under pressure; lessons that continue to shape her growth.
 
Looking ahead, both Curitti and her coach see even more potential on the horizon.
 
"Next season, I see Anastasia continuing to grow as an athlete and really fine-tune her skills," Thomas said. "She's lost some matches this season that I personally think she could win with just a few minor tweaks."
 
Despite already making a major impact, Thomas emphasized how much room Curitti still has to grow.
 
"Anastasia has only been wrestling about five years, which isn't that long," she said. "She is incredible already, but still has so much room to grow and that's very exciting."
 
For those hesitant about stepping into women's wrestling, Curitti offers advice shaped by experience: take the leap. Be open-minded. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Wrestling, she believes, has the power to change lives; not just as an athlete, but as a person.
 
And for Anastasia Curitti, both she and her coach believe this is only the beginning.