Senior Faith Cole pins her opponent in a wrestling match. Cole has been the State champion for all four years of her high school career.
On her way to the Olympics, four State championships is just a pit stop: Faith Cole
You’ve probably at the very least heard of Faith Cole. Undefeated in four high school seasons of wrestling and four time state champion, her story has made the rounds.
Cole started wrestling when she was eight. She moved a lot as a kid but she always joined a local wrestling club wherever she went.
“It’s basically the only sport I’m decent at and kept with,” Cole said. “I’m a competitor, I’m really competitive. I love winning so it worked really well.”
Cole went to La Salle Middle School for a year, which primarily flows to Eureka High School, but she transferred to Lafayette her freshman year with her sister.
“It’s been good, I’m very very grateful I transferred. Not only for athletics, yes I’m in a great spot athletically with the team and with the coaches, but friends wise I’ve definitely done a lot better here,” Cole said.
Cole has largely stuck with her social circle the past few years.
“I’m okay with having the select few people who keep me happy socially while I focus on my other goals outside of school work. I don’t see the point in messing with your social group if nothings wrong with it,” Cole said.
Meanwhile, she has been focusing on herself academically and as a wrestler. After all she has accomplished, Cole isn’t done training.
“Yes, [the] high school season is an amazing experience but that’s not what I’m training for. I’m not training to win a state title, I’m training to win a World and Olympic title,” Cole said. “I’m working to accomplish being on the Olympic team for hopefully 2028.”
So Cole has built a platform around her motivation. Her upcoming Faith Cole collection will offer a brand of merchandise to inspire girl athletes to take her mindset.
“I just want every girl athlete to know that it’s okay to be different from the rest of everybody,” Cole said. “It’s okay to have these setbacks and be different and be bullied and whatever hate you get it, you just have to be stronger than everybody else. Your work ethic and your mindset has to be different from everybody else. You’re not gonna accomplish what I’ve accomplished if you give up on the first try.”