California Freestyle State Champion and national competitor, Senior Alyssa Jones, has been a total stud for Poway’s Wrestling program. Earning placements in Utah multiple times, and even before the state tournament, was ranked sixth in California for wrestling
Jones has been wrestling for five years and works very hard daily by going to the gym and maintaining her weight.
Jones’ life took a turn when Jones noticed a lump in her neck and thought it was an inflamed lymph node, but then the growth continued. Jones started getting symptoms like night sweats and extreme fatigue, which concerned her and her family. She then found out in March that she had stage II Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
This type of cancer affects the lymphatic system, a network of vessels and nodes that is part of the body’s immune system.
When Jones first found this out, she didn’t realize it was a form of cancer. She felt unfazed, not knowing that it was serious. Her parents then explained her condition more in-depth to Jones, and that was when it set in for her.
“I felt confident knowing I had an incredible support system made up of my family, friends, and the wrestling community,” Jones says.
Her support system includes her boyfriend, senior wrestler Billy Townson. Towson is ranked fourth in his weight class and has known Jones since they were very young.
“I’m going to be by her side throughout everything. She’s a strong girl, and she will push through it and get back to where she was,” Towson said.
Jones has not let her diagnosis get in the way of living her life as she is still finishing school online, going to the gym daily, and she recently went on a vacation to Cabo. Jones films vlogs on her TikTok about her appointments and day-in-the-life videos.
Jones has stayed very positive and uplifting about this whole situation:
“Despite the challenges, my experience so far has been surprisingly positive, and I remain committed to staying optimistic throughout this journey,” Jones said.
Jones is committed to wrestling at Minot State University in North Dakota, where she will be majoring in nursing.
She relies on her faith in God’s hands and on God to give her strength when she needs it most.
Another one of Jones’ teammates, freshman Edna Rodriquez Villanueva, met Jones during wrestling season at school. “I’m so happy she has the opportunity to grow and do bigger things. She’s an inspiration for me.” Villanueva says.
