Meet Xavia Banigan '24

Xavia Banigan, '24, from North Reading, Massachusetts, embodies the best qualities of leadership, competitive spirit, dedication to her team, and athleticism. She enjoyed a dominant senior season, winning the St. Paul's, Andover, and New England tournaments. Xavia also recently achieved a "Govs first," becoming Govs first three-time All-American in wrestling. Her most recent All-American accolade was secured in February via a third-place finish at the National Prep Wrestling Championships in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She went 4-1 in the tournament, with her only loss coming in the semi-finals to the 10th-ranked (public or private) wrestler in the country.

A co-captain of the varsity wrestling team, Xavia also plays varsity tennis and outdoor track and field. A true scholar-athlete, she has a rigorous academic schedule with four AP courses, including Spanish language, English, US Government and Politics, and AB Calculus.

Xavia took time from her busy schedule to share more about her life at Govs and plans for the future.

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GOVS: How did you become interested in wrestling? 

XAVIA:
I retired from synchronized swimming in the fall of my sophomore year, and I needed a sport for my sophomore winter. Mr. McLain, an assistant wrestling coach, was my AP World History teacher, and my parents told him about my background in Taekwondo during a parent-teacher conference. Mr. McLain convinced me, along with a few other girls, to join the wrestling team. I quickly fell in love with the sport.

GOVS: How did placing 3rd at the National Prep Championships feel? Do you plan to continue wrestling in college?

XAVIA:
I felt happy to place third at Nationals and end my Govs wrestling career with a win. A favorite quote of mine is, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Even though I did not win the title, I am grateful for the talented girls in my bracket who challenged me in that tournament.

Sadly, opportunities for female wrestlers are limited at the collegiate level. I prioritized other opportunities when making my college list. Depending on the school, I hope to join the women's wrestling club or start a club.

GOVS: Many people might be surprised to learn that you wrestle boys and girls. How does it feel to compete as an athlete against top opponents in your weight class, regardless of gender? 

XAVIA:
Overall, I had a really positive experience wrestling boys. I trained with boys in the Govs wrestling room and at my club, Doughboy Wrestling Club, to prepare me for any competitor. People underestimate girls’ ability to wrestle boys, and I like having the chip on my shoulder. I have more fun wrestling as the underdog because I can surprise myself and others. All my male competitors demonstrated good sportsmanship this year, which I hope encourages more girls to join the sport.

 

GOVS: You also play varsity tennis and have participated in volleyball and strength and conditioning. Have you always been a natural athlete? 

XAVIA:
I have always loved sports. I earned my second-degree blackbelt in Taekwondo in eighth grade. I also competed nationally in synchronized swimming (synchro) for six years with a club team. The discipline from Taekwondo and the camaraderie from my synchro team have made sports a very positive and central part of my life.

I also thank my parents for my athletic genes. My mom was a D1 fencer at the University of Notre Dame and captained her team to an NCAA Title her senior year, and my dad served in the Army. Their support and work ethic have helped me succeed in my sports and passions.

GOVS: Are there teachers, coaches, or fellow students who you admire at Govs?

XAVIA:
I admire all of the former wrestling captains from my sophomore and junior years. They taught me that exceptional leaders put their teammates before themselves. The former captains set the bar extremely high for me and my co-captains this season, and I hope to set a good example for my younger teammates.

GOVS: You also juggle many AP classes; what class has challenged you the most at Govs?

XAVIA:
AP United States History has challenged me the most. I took this class in my junior year. This class is infamously difficult because it entails AP exam material and a 15-page thesis paper. My thesis draft was very scrappy, and that led me to meet with Mr. Quigley in the Learning Center and take advantage of the academic resources at Govs. After months of hard work, I produced a thesis paper that I was truly proud of and I scored well on the AP exam.

GOVS: Do you have any other passions outside the classroom and wrestling?

XAVIA:
I am passionate about service. I hope to be commissioned as an Army officer after college or contribute to the United States Armed Forces in some form in the future. I also love to travel with my family. Last summer, my brother, cousins, and I visited the Philippines for the first time. We met dozens of family members who welcomed us with open arms and taught us more about our culture.

GOVS: What was a moment of courage for you at Govs or outside of school?

XAVIA:
Joining the Govs wrestling team. As a former synchronized swimmer, I was used to being surrounded by girls in an athletic environment. The culture of synchro and Govs wrestling seemed completely opposite at first, but I soon learned that my wrestling teammates support me as much as my synchro teammates. I also realized that all my wrestling goals were achievable with hard work and dedication.

GOVS: Where is your favorite place on campus to spend your free time?

XAVIA:
The dining hall is my favorite place to spend time with friends who I don’t see in class or the afternoon program. I also love going to the dining hall with the wrestling team after practice. It was really special to squeeze teammates of all grades around a table and laugh after a difficult practice.

GOVS: What advice would you give to new students?

XAVIA:
Take advantage of all the opportunities at Govs. You’ll never know how happy you can be and how much you can achieve until you challenge yourself to try new things.