As a high school with over 1,000 students, Summit High School has its fair share of talented athletes. 

From standout distance runners to rugby stars and skiers, Summit has consistently churned out collegiate athletes year after year. For the first time in school history however, Summit is bringing up a female wrestler that has the college ranks in her sights.

Although she is just finishing her sophomore year at Summit, Ayla Hampton has already become a fixture of the Colorado wrestling scene.

Over the first two years of her high school career, Hampton was forced to take on the unique challenge of competing for Battle Mountain High School due to a lack of a girls program at Summit. Despite feeling uncomfortable competing for a rival school, Hampton made the most of her freshman and sophomore campaigns. 

Hampton qualified for her first state meet at the end of the 2024 winter season, placing fourth in her weight class at the Girls West Region 3 wrestling tournament. The following weekend in Denver, Hampton failed to place in the state tournament as a freshman, but gained valuable skills and confidence in her wrestling.

This past winter, Hampton moved down to the 130-pound weight class where the burgeoning star went on a tear. Not only did Hampton rack up an impressive record during the high school season, but she also was crowned the champion of the 130-pound 4A Region 2 girls wrestling tournament. 

Wanting to place at the prestigious statewide tournament, Hampton continued to put on a clinic on the wrestling mat. Hampton advanced all the way to the state semifinal before being pinned by junior Santana Montez of Pueblo Central High School. 

Hampton fought her way through the consolation side of the bracket, placing sixth overall at the state tournament. 

Although her sophomore high school wrestling season ended at the state tournament in February, Hampton has continued to hone her craft at several club wrestling meets over the last few months.

In May, Hampton reached another major career milestone, placing fourth overall at the Western Regional Championships from May 9-10 in Herriman, Utah. 

The impressive finish earned her a spot on Team Colorado for Fargo Nationals. With only the top four athletes in each weight class being selected for the team, the feat showcases Hampton’s continual dedication, commitment and work ethic.

“That was a big accomplishment, knowing that I am going to one of the biggest tournaments ever for wrestling this summer,” Hampton said. “I think that just experimenting with the new types of wrestling, the Freestyle and Greco, and wrestling people from Denver, is really helping me experience new types of wrestling.”

Hampton will compete at Fargo Nationals — officially the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals and 16U National Championships — as part of Team Colorado in Fargo, North Dakota. The meet annually draws the nation’s best wrestlers and is a major goal for youth wrestlers across the nation.

Not only will the opportunity expose Hampton to the national ranks, but it could also open the door to opportunities beyond high school. 

Although Hampton will be making her debut at the tournament, she is not shaken by the moment. Instead, much like her focus prior to her first state tournament, Hampton is poised to display what she can do at the national level.

“I am really looking forward to just kind of showing everyone there, the scouts there and the world what I have been working on this whole past summer and this off season,” Hampton said. “Just showing the new things that I am learning and how I have been progressing over time.”

Outside of qualifying for nationals, Hampton also managed to be crowned a state champion at the Freestyle and Greco-Roman state championships in Castle Rock on Saturday, May 24. Hampton won both the Freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments in her weight class. 

Hampton will represent Summit County from July 10-19 at the Fargo Dome in Fargo, North Dakota. A livestream will be provided on FloWrestling.com.