Peninsula’s Robles Sisters Are on the Rise in the Wrestling Ranks

Their journey isn’t about outdoing one another, it’s about carrying on a legacy built on family, hard work, and a shared love for the sport.”

First came sixth, then seventh, then eighth. The Robles sisters’ climb to the Washington state girls wrestling podium has followed an interesting numerical pattern: Oldest sister Emilia finished sixth as a senior in 2022, Mya took seventh (100 lbs.) at the 2025 Mat Classic, and a few minutes later, Lily placed eighth (115 lbs.). But don’t expect that sequence to continue. The two younger Robles sisters have their sights set on a different number: one.

For Mya, a sophomore on the Peninsula Seahawks girls wrestling state runner-up team, and Lily, a freshman, their journey isn’t about outdoing one another, it’s about carrying on a legacy built on family, hard work, and a shared love for the sport that Emilia helped bring into their lives.

“I remember when (Emilia) would go to wrestling practice and I’d think, ‘I want to wrestle, too. I want to be just like her,’” Lily said. “I thought it was really cool that she was wrestling as a girl and breaking barriers in the sport.”

A few years before Mira Sonnen and Bailey Parker each won back-to-back individual state championships and the Seahawks girls wrestling team won their first team title last year, Emilia was blazing the trail. In 2022, she became the first Peninsula girls wrestler to place at the Mat Classic, finishing sixth in the 145-pound division. She went on to wrestle at Grays Harbor College, continuing to set an example for her younger sisters.

“She never took it easy on me,” Mya said about her big sister initiating her into the sport. “Ever since Emilia got into wrestling, I was inspired to follow in her footsteps. She really wanted to help grow girls wrestling.”

Because of the age difference — Emilia is six years older than Lily — she left for college soon after her younger sisters took up wrestling in middle school. After introducing them to the sport, her role shifted from mentor to distant supporter. The seed had been planted, but it was up to Mya and Lily to grow and cultivate their own success on the mat while carrying forward the legacy Emilia had started. 

“(Mya and Lily) show up, never complain, and have a great attitude and mindset about getting better,” said Seahawks girls and boys wrestling coach Gary Griffin, who coached all three Robles sisters and just finished his 13th year at the helm. “There’s a humility and coachability that’s pretty amazing in them.”

Though Mya, who finished the season with a 30-12 record, and Lily (31-16) wrestle in different weight classes, the sisters are each other's built-in training partners. Their bond has been forged through countless drills, takedowns, and yes, the occasional sibling rivalry. But when it’s time to compete, they become each other’s loudest supporters.

Mya opened the Mat Classic in February by pinning her first two opponents before a tough quarterfinal loss sent her into the consolation bracket. She bounced back with another pin before securing seventh place with a second-period pin over Kailyann Dencker of Everett.

“I was really nervous for her, but I knew she had it. She trained so hard all season for her not to win that match,” Lily said.

Soon after, it was Lily’s turn. After losing in the first round of the tournament, she battled back in the consolation round with four straight pins before dropping a match that would’ve sent her to the fifth-place match. She then battled for seventh place but fell in a tough 9-5 decision to Signe Cairus of Stanwood.

“I was so loud when she was out there,” Mya said. “I know she wanted to do better, but I was so excited and proud of her. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way before.”

With their first state placements behind them, Mya and Lily are already looking ahead to next season — driven not just by their own ambitions but by the example their older sister set before them. Their journey isn’t just about winning; it’s about continuing a tradition, lifting each other up, and proving that the Robles name belongs on the podium.

“For me, success means putting full effort into every practice,” Mya said. “If I had pushed myself harder in practice, I think I could have placed higher. Now I look at it as every opportunity I get is a chance to improve.”

Lily said, “I’m going to train harder and push myself more than I did this season because I know I can do better.”

With college still years away, both sisters are aiming high. Mya is interested in Arizona State, if not for its radiology program then for its warm weather. If she goes there, Lily said she’ll be there a year later.

“I’d love to wrestle in college,” said Lily, who also plays volleyball for Peninsula. “If Mya and I could wrestle on the same team and go to the same school, I think that would be pretty cool.”

For now, they are taking it one year at a time. They know there are more podiums ahead, more moments to celebrate, and more steps to take in the sport that has shaped them. The numbers six, seven, and eight may have defined their journey so far, but the story of the Robles sisters is still being written, and they’re determined to make sure the next number is the one that matters most.