Liberty High's Bozanic continues wrestling dominance

Anna Bozanic's recent success in Indiana add to her impressive resume. (Photos courtesy of Michael Bozanic)

 By Sydney Woodley, Correspondent

Sophomore Anna Bozanic of Liberty High School has once again made a significant impact on the high school wrestling scene. Competing in the 235-pound weight class, Bozanic's nine-year wrestling career has solidified her as a formidable presence, garnering recognition at both local and national levels.

Bozanic recently returned from Indiana, where she competed as a member of California's Cadet National Team (ages 15-16), showcasing her talent on the national stage. The previous year, she played a key role on California's Junior National Team (ages 17-20), helping secure their inaugural National Championship in Greco-Roman style wrestling. Continuing her success this year, Bozanic contributed to the team’s impressive third-place finishes in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling disciplines.

In a pivotal match against Indiana, Bozanic faced terrific pressure in the final bout of the Cadet Freestyle Pool “D” dual. With Team California trailing 29-33, Bozanic secured victory with a decisive 38- second pin, sparking great celebration among her teammates.

"I was a little nervous, but I had to stay composed and treat it like any other match," Bozanic said. "I've been in similar high-pressure situations before, so I focused on getting the job done and afterwards, celebrating with my team."

Bozanic attributes her mental fortitude and confidence to years of dedicated training and self-belief. She approaches each match with a strategy to impose her style and dictate the pace.

Beyond her national team achievements, Bozanic's high school season was marked by numerous victories and accolades. Representing Liberty High School in Winchester, she showcased determination and resilience throughout the year to achieve remarkable success.

"Entering my sophomore year, I was determined to achieve goals that I just missed as a freshman," Bozanic shared. "I focused on growth and pushed myself harder than ever."

Bozanic's journey to the CIF State Championships was paved with triumphs, notably winning the highly competitive Queen of the Hill tournament in Corona and earning the coveted Champion’s Tiara. This victory, in December 2023, was a personal milestone, affirming her growth and determination following a finals loss in the tournament's previous year – as a freshman.

At the February 2024 CIF State Championships in Bakersfield, Bozanic clinched third place once again, showcasing her dominance with six pins, each lasting an average of just 60 seconds per match. Her stellar sophomore campaign mirrored her achievements as a freshman in 2023.

Bozanic's outstanding performance at CIF State propelled her in March 2024 to the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Championship in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she emerged as a National Champion and earned recognition as a High School All-American. Her success in a challenging 32-person bracket underscored her tenacity and skill across different grade levels (9-12). Anna pinned all five of her opponents at the NHSCA Championships.

In April, she secured third place at the US Open Girls High School Showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada – all wins by pin against some of the toughest competition in the United States.

In early June 2023 at the California USA Wrestling Freestyle tournament in Fresno, Bozanic dominated her age group and one age group above, claiming Champion titles in both the Cadet (15-16 year-old) and Junior (17-20 year-old) divisions with six pins overall.

Bozanic boasts a high school record of 74-4 (in just two seasons) with an impressive 69 pins. Despite her overwhelming success, she emphasizes the mental aspect of wrestling, viewing losses as opportunities for improvement rather than setbacks.

Bozanic's achievements extend beyond the wrestling mat. An honor roll student at Liberty, she is pursuing a medical track and will begin her third year of American Sign Language studies in the fall.

Supporting Bozanic every step of her journey is her father and coach, Michael Bozanic, a former wrestler and one of Liberty High School's head coaches (along with John Phillips). Recognizing her maturity and dedication, Michael has transitioned from rigorous coaching to mentoring her in the sport's mental aspects and setting improvement goals.

Bozanic credits her early experience training with boys for shaping her resilience and confidence in wrestling. Facing stronger and older opponents early on (often going a long time without a single win) pushed her to elevate her skills, emphasizing improvement over wins and losses. That’s a philosophy that has proven effective. She currently holds the No. 10 ranking among high school girl wrestlers in the country at 235 pounds.

Born in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Bozanic holds dual citizenship in the United States and Russia, which allowed her to train in Moscow during the COVID-19 pandemic—an experience that broadened her perspective and bolstered her confidence.

"Stepping out of your comfort zone is crucial for growth," her father noted. "Even if it means facing challenges and occasional setbacks, the competition ultimately makes you better – and prepares a person for the realities of life."

Looking ahead, Bozanic aims to capture a CIF State Championship title and pursue collegiate wrestling. During the off-season, she remains focused on consistent training and plans to participate in additional tournaments.

Bozanic keeps her skills sharp by training with Anthony and Troy Mantanona and Mike Longo at the Mantanona Training Center in Temecula. Anthony, Troy, and Mike are all former D1 collegiate wrestlers at Oklahoma University and were highly accomplished California and National High School wrestlers. Between her coaches at Liberty High School and MTC, Anna is preparing herself well for collegiate wrestling.

Girl wrestling has seen significant growth, particularly in California, where participation has surged, reflecting its popularity and potential for building confidence and self-defense skills among young women.

According to the USAW Girls High School Development Committee, California High School Girl Wrestling reached nearly 8,500 participants in the 2023-2024 season, which is a significant increase over 6,000 participants in the 2022-2023 wrestling season. That growth is mirrored across the country and has placed girls wrestling as the fastest growing high school sport with over 50,000 participants across the United States.

“The way she is creating offense and the way she views matches going into it is something I had to find in my high school career that translated into my college career,.” Mantanoña said. “It’s something we are working on a lot, not just the techniques.”

Bozanic's ultimate motivation is to inspire other girls to join wrestling, recognizing its impact on self-confidence and resilience.