Ramos Takes National College Title In Wrestling With A Pin

Former Red Raider Andrina Ramos takes the upper hand in nationals for Pacific University. Photo from Andrina Ramos.

For Andrina Ramos and her Pacific University wrestling teammates in Forest Grove, Ore., the 2011 season ended inauspiciously, to say the least, when a series of registration and clerical errors disqualified them from national play.

“We traveled all the way to Georgia and found out we couldn’t compete,” said Ramos, a Kahuku High graduate. “It wasn’t a good feeling after all of that training, but that was also a big motivation for this season.”

So Ramos approached it as if making up for lost time. She recently captured an individual national title in the 112-pound weight class, winning two of three matches by pin. In the championship, Ramos needed just one round to secure the win with a 2-minute, 51-second pin of North Florida’s Ashley Rodriguez.

“I made it my goal at the beginning of the season, and I would remind myself of that goal every day so I would work hard in practice,” she said. “The fact that my dad was able to come and watch was a real big motivation for me, too.”

Ramos is a junior with two years of eligibility remaining. She recently spent time visiting with MidWeek‘s Windward Islander.

Who’s had the biggest impact on your life? My grandfather (Santiago Ramos). He passed away about eight years ago. He was honestly the greatest man I ever met. He was caring and a hard worker, and I looked up to him for that.

What is your earliest sports-related memory? Probably it was in volleyball, which I played for five years after starting in the third grade. I always knew I was a libero because I’m so tiny, but I realized I like one-on-one sports more than team sports.

What area did you work most on in the off-season? I tried to lift (weights) when I had time. I also tried to keep my weight down so I wouldn’t have a hard time cutting to my weight class during the season.

What’s been the biggest adjustment from high school to the college level for you? I think the intensity. It’s a whole new level of wrestling. In high school, people are still learning the sport and doing it for fun. In college, you have more dedicated and skilled athletes.

What is your least-favorite household chore? Pulling weeds and cleaning the yard. Don’t tell my dad I said that.

Are you the life of the party or the one who stands by and listens? I’m the life of the party. I’m like a social butterfly. I love socializing and being Miss Aloha.

What site do you frequent the most on the Internet? Definitely Face-book. I like it too much.

What movie could you watch over and over? 50 First Dates. I love that movie. It’s so funny.

What’s currently in your iPod? It depends. When I work out, which is usually when I use it, I listen to a lot of songs from Rocky.

Are you a neat freak or messy? I’m a clean freak – not at school, but at home. My dad makes sure. I’m pretty organized, though.

What do you consider your hobbies? I honestly love eating. I eat all of the time. Especially now that we are out of season, I’ve been eating constantly.

Who would be your choice for a celebrity date on a Saturday night? Liam Hemsworth (actor). He has a real cool Australian accent.

You are stuck on Kaho’olawe and have an endless supply of just one food. What would it be? Nutella.