“The biggest reward in all this is being able to pursue my career, pursue wrestling and spend time with my family.” - World champion Kristie Davis


Balancing Act


She’s a wife, a mother, a full-time student and a legend in women’s wrestling. And she’s not done yet. Two-time World champion Kristie Davis has her sights set on the Olympics.


By Jason Bryant When it comes to household chores


and cooking, two-time World champion Kristie Davis is quick to say she doesn’t get any of the credit. But getting credit for cooking dinner for


the family isn’t the type of credits Davis is going after. Turning 32 in January, Davis is back in school full-time for the first time since 1997, pursuing a nursing degree at Oklahoma City University. Davis, a nine-time World medalist, has


a few other things to balance than just school and wrestling, making her an atyp- ical figure in the college wrestling land- scape. Yes, Davis is competing for Archie Randall and her husband, Link Davis, on the women’s wrestling team at OCU – and balancing school, wrestling and three daughters. “I have a lot more on my plate than I


used to,” said Davis. “I didn’t really real- ize it until halfway through the semester. We have a good balance. Me and Link have a good balance with both sets of families.” The family includes 12-year-old Kayla


and 17-month old Lily along with Link’s 8- year-old daughter Bryleigh, whom the Davis’ have every other weekend. “She’s a lot of help,” said Davis of Bryleigh. “You’d think it gets crazy with three kids in the house, but they keep each other company on weekends. It gives Kayla something to do, it gives Bryleigh something to do.”


14 USA Wrestler


Kristie Davis (top) looks for an edge at the 2010 World Championships in Moscow, Russia. She is a nine-time World medalist. John Sachs photo.


While Davis is the most accomplished women’s college wrestler even before stepping on the mat at OCU, she feels she’s not treated any differently. “I don’t even think that kind of stuff


affects them,” said Davis. “Some of these girls have been around me since their freshman year. We have graduating sen- iors this year, and I’ve been around them


for so long. To them, I’m just Kristie. “I fit in like your normal college kid, I


think,” she said. “I have no coaching authority at all. As far as the girls go, we all have to do the same thing. I’m sure they look at me as another girl on the team.” But Davis isn’t just any other girl on the


Continued on page 31


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44