Athlete of the week: Palmyra’s Bettie Chambers

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Channel 8’s Athlete of the week belongs to a state champion wrestler who’s had battles on, and off the mat.

Bettie Chambers, a senior at Palmyra High won the 115 pound state wrestling title on February 20, and it wasn’t an easy road.

Growing up, Bettie was facing her own battles, before ever stepping foot on the mat.

In fourth grade, Chambers was diagnosed with epilepsy, and a year later doctors discovered a brain tumor.

“That was hard. It was pretty hard,” said Chambers.

But, that didn’t slow Bettie down. In fact, it drove her to prove something to others, and herself.

“Feeling restricted was hard for me, especially because I’m a very independent person,” Chambers said. “Part of the reason I wrestle is because of my mom, and because I wanted to prove to others that I’m more than my diagnoses.”

Betties path to redemption remained on track, but then just three weeks before the state tournament she received another bump in the road.

She dislocated her elbow, and suffered a seizure. It was her first she had in two years.

“That really hurt. After getting my cast off, and getting cleared to wrestle and then winning state taught me that I can. I can. And it taught me not to let my epilepsy or my dislocation define who I am as a wrestler.”

Bettie took a huge leap in her four years competing at Palmyra.

In her freshman season she recorded 15 wins, and 13 losses.

Four years later, she completed a 49-2 senior season winning the state title. According to her, all that changed for her was a shift in mentality.

“After the summer I came back into the season with a better mindset. I can win, I know I can do it but I was also willing to lose,” said Chambers.

Bettie’s message is clear. If you can put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.

“I think definitely wrestling continues teaching me life lessons all the way to the very end. Just knowing that I can, and so can you. So can everybody else.”