After countless hours waking before sunrise to hit the wrestling mat, First Lt. Stephanie Simon, a 2012 graduate of Evergreen High School and a 2017 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, has qualified for the World Team Trials.
Simon has a long personal history with combat sports. She began wrestling in sixth grade, and in 2011, she earned fourth place in the U.S. Marine Corps Cadet and Junior National Championships. In 2015, she became the first female athlete to earn a national boxing title from the U.S. Naval Academy, earning two more titles during her time at the academy. As a U.S. Marine, Simon became one of the first female amphibian assault officers, a combat occupational specialty that was closed to women until 2016.
“When the Marine Corps sets a standard, she tries to surpass that standard,” said First Lieutenant Terrence Zaleski, director of communications for All-Marine Wrestling Team.
Simon has continuously strived to contribute to equality, and sought out opportunities to push for greater recognition of women. “I picked (amphibian assault officer) because I knew that would be a big point of friction,” said Simon in a recent press release. “I wanted to go where I knew it was going to be tough and also where I knew they needed to have females, and female officers who were in charge and who have authority.” She is now a platoon commander and will soon take on greater responsibilities as a company executive officer.
