A Warrior’s Path: How Isaak Arevalo Chose West Point

A connection to West Point years ago paved the way for Isaak Arevalo to sign to wrestle for Army.

After winning his second title two years ago, former Army coach Jimmy Overhiser expressed interest in the Arlington James Martin standout.

Overhiser, though, left Army for a job at Tarleton State. He kept on recruiting Arevalo, while Army head coach Kevin Ward at the time stayed in touch with Arevalo.

Ward saw Arevalo a few times at NHSCA High School Nationals and stayed in touch.

Ward got Arevalo out for a visit after he won his fourth UIL state title earlier this year.

“I really liked it and he liked how I showed up and brought energy,” Arevalo said.

On May 15, Arevalo signed to compete for Army.

Arevalo became the 5th four-time champion after Allen’s Braxton Brown (2018-21). Allen had three of the four — with Amarillo Tascosa having the first.

The Warriors standout finished his senior year with a 38-0 mark this season and 132-7 in his career.

Arevalo was also named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the 6A finals.

He said he looked closely at Army, Appalachian State and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

At the end, he felt the Army would set him up for his future the best.

“Wrestling … you can’t do wrestling forever and sooner or later I’d need a job and I just felt a place could be set up after wrestling, financially in the future and in general, was Army,” he said.

He said the recruiting process was tough. Arevalo said he liked all of the school and it took a while to make what he called a hard decision. 

He will head to West Point, New York, on July 13 to start at the new school.

Arevalo will join a roster that did not have a Texan during the 2024-25 season. 

He said he expects to be at 125 pounds or 133 pounds for the Black Knights. According to the 2025-26 roster, there are 4 wrestlers at 125 and also four at 133.

The veteran-laden roster includes 24 wrestlers who spend their first year in New York at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School — essentially a bridge year between seniors and freshmen year of college.

“I like how they practice and everybody seems in a good mood,” Arevalo said. “It was about just having; it was relaxed and super chill.”

He said he went back and watched a dual on Dec. 6, 2024, where Army nearly beat Iowa, 23-16.

“I’m just going to keep on working out until I ship off,” Arevalo said of his summer plans.

He said he plans to look into a degree in sports medicine or kinesiology, with hopes of becoming a physical therapist or doctor in the future.

Arevalo will have to serve 5 years in the military before he is discharged and can continue his education.

“It’s pretty crazy how fast high school went; it didn’t seem like it was going by fast and now looking back, it was pretty fast,” he said. “It’s crazy.”