From homelessness to the national stage: Daisy Infante’s remarkable wrestling journey

By Matt Nazar

Every so often, sports give us a story that reminds us why we believe in perseverance, hope and the power of the human spirit. This year, one of those stories belongs to Galileo High School (San Francisco, Calif.) senior and PAL wrestling participant Daisy Infante.

Recently, Infante traveled to the prestigious USA Wrestling National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota — widely considered the nation’s toughest high school wrestling tournament. Competing against the best wrestlers in the country, she finished with an impressive 2-2 record, earning recognition as one of the nation’s top 50 wrestlers.

While that achievement alone is significant, it is the journey behind it that makes Daisy’s story unforgettable.

During her freshman and sophomore years at Galileo High School, Daisy experienced homelessness in San Francisco.

Many young people facing those circumstances would struggle just to make it through each day. Yet despite the uncertainty and hardships, Daisy never gave up on herself or her dreams.

Instead, she poured her energy into wrestling, showing a level of determination and resilience that inspired everyone around her. That perseverance transformed her into one of the most accomplished wrestlers in San Francisco history.

Over her four-year career, Daisy became a four-time San Francisco Section champion, a four-time CCS North Regional qualifier, a two-time CCS North Regional finalist, a CCS North Regional champion, a three-time CCS Masters qualifier, a two-time CCS Masters finalist, a CCS Masters champion, a two-time CIF State qualifier and a Fargo National Championships qualifier. Several of these accomplishments had never before been achieved by a wrestler from the San Francisco Section, making her career one of the most historic the city has ever seen.

Championships and medals tell only part of Daisy’s story. Her greatest victory is proving that difficult circumstances do not have to define a person’s future.

Through relentless hard work, courage, and an unwavering belief in herself, she turned adversity into excellence. Her legacy extends far beyond wrestling as she has become a role model for young athletes across San Francisco, showing that no obstacle is too great when matched with determination, resilience, and heart.

Daisy Infante’s story is more than a Cinderella story — it is a testament to the extraordinary strength of the human spirit. This strength of hers will carry over to whatever endeavors she comes across in the future. Good luck!

This article was published in the August 2026 POA Journal*