Izzy DiLeggi stays plenty busy.
And she’s always looking to add to her schedule.
DiLeggi is a senior at Archbishop Ryan, and just staying on top of her studies can be a chore. Not only is she one of the top students in the school, ranked in the top 10 of her senior class, she’s a Diocesean Scholar who will take classes this fall at Holy Family University.
Just staying on top of her grades could keep many busy, but it doesn’t even scratch the surface of all of the things on DiLeggi’s busy schedule.
She attends Ryan on a music scholarship, which she earned for playing the guitar.
She’s a star on the Ryan flag football team.
And she trains at Premier Martial Ars/Counterstrike Kenpo in Huntingdon Valley. Kenpo is a martial art that emphasizes practical self-defense, with a focus on efficient, flowing movements and realistic combat situations.
That may be what encouraged her to do her latest activity, wrestling.
The Ragdolls added a wrestling team three years ago and when she heard about it, DiLeggi came running.
“When Ryan started a wrestling team for girls my sophomore year, I just showed up and decided to join because I already did martial arts,” said DiLeggi, who was born without a left hand. “I do Kenpo, which is an Israeli self-defense martial arts. It’s not really related to wrestling at all, it’s not Jujutsu or anything like that. It’s just a physical, contact sport.
“I really don’t know what I liked about it. I like training to fight. I don’t like fighting, but I love training. I played soccer when I was younger, but then COVID hit and I was bored. Everything was closed and (Sensi David Pantano) was running COVID-safe classes. He would do them on the internet over Zoom. I was going to school at home, it was really the only thing going on during COVID.”
Wrestling might have some similarities with her martial arts, but not a whole lot, so DiLeggi has been learning on the fly.
She’s also been teaching on the fly.
She was unanimously selected to be a captain for the Ragdolls wrestling team next year, which is perfect because it means she’s the leader of a team that means just about everything to her.
“I came in thinking it would be similar, and the footwork helped a lot, but everything else is really different,” said DiLeggi, who lives in Rhawnhurst. “I’m comfortable with moving around and being in contact with people. Having the discipline from martial arts helped with the training and practice.
“I’d say wrestling has been easy to get involved with, but hard to learn. You have to learn all the moves and know when to do them when you’re wrestling. I’m still learning, I’m not completely comfortable yet, but I’m getting better.”
Not only a great athlete, DiLeggi is able to be a great leader for the younger wrestlers, or even other newcomers no matter their age because of her attitude.
She loves to help and she loves being around the Ryan wrestling team.
“I love the team, and the coaches, it’s just really good to be around the team,” DiLeggi said. “I really like our coaches. We have really good coaches. They have helped me a lot. They’ve made me a better wrestler.”
The coaching has helped.
But DiLeggi puts everything she has into the sport. She’s worked hard all summer to improve, and hopes for big things her senior year.
“Practice is hard,” DiLeggi said. “In the summer it’s easier, we get more water breaks. If you don’t go to summer practice, it’s going to be harder starting back up because we work on cardio and running and then more cardio. A lot of cardio. My cardio is pretty good I’d say. I think I keep up with our practices pretty well. I’ve been going all summer and lifting all summer.
“Everyone shows up to practice, we all get along, we formed a tighter bond, everyone shows up and works hard. Hopefully we keep doing that and everyone finishes the season, and hopefully everyone gets a win this year. I love seeing them get a win. When we win, it’s almost like we won states. We all get so excited for each other.”
For DiLeggi, it’s not really about wins and loses, although those wins are something worth celebrating.
DiLeggi is always trying to figure out ways to succeed. She’s done it in wrestling, she’s done it in football, music, school work and her newest venture.
“I joined the rifle club,” said DiLeggi, who uses a prosthetic to hold the rifle. “I was at flag football practice and my friend who graduated, she asked if I wanted to go to the rifle club and it was fun. It’s the Holmesburg Fish and Game on State Road.
“I started around the end of the school year, April or May, I’m having a lot of fun with it. I just moved up from prone to sitting, so that was fun. It wasn’t hard (to shoot with the prosthetic). I’m used to doing things like that, same in wrestling, so it’s not hard.
“I’m used to it, so it doesn’t seem harder to me. Some moves might be different but I’m pretty good at adapting to it. I do a lot of hand fightoing, it doesn’t hurt me at all.”
Same with music, where she plays both the bass and guitar.
Ideally, her future will include all of the things she loves.
“I’ll be wrestling, maybe I’ll be in a band, I want to do a lot,” said DiLeggi, who is ranked fourth in her senior class and considering forensic science as a major. “But mostly wrestling. I’m looking at a few schools. I’m proud of how far I’ve come since COVID with wrestling. It’s hard, but I’m learning.”
Just like her parents.
Her dad jokes that he had to keep a rulebook handy for whenever his little girl is on the mat. But even if he doesn’t know what backpoints are or mom doesn’t know what a tech fall is, they’re a huge part of the package.
“I’m very lucky, my parents support me in everything I do,” DiLeggi said. “They come to all my matches, they support me in everything. I’m very lucky.”
She lucked out when it comes to family, but when it comes to accomplishments, that’s pure hard work and her infectious attitude.
Those are the reasons she was selected as one of seven Positive Athletes out of 12,000 nominees in the Northeast Region.
The Positive Athlete award “honors student-athletes who show resilience, leadership, and a positive attitude on and off the field.”
It was one she certainly deserved.
“I was really shocked to hear when they told me,” DiLeggi said. “When my coach told me he was going to submit me for it, I was so honored. It’s nice being chosen for that, it felt like a pretty big accomplishment. I think it motivates me, too.”
