Toccara Montgomery

2004 Olympian for Women's Wrestling

What is Toccara Montgomery known for?

Born on December 30, 1982, in Cleveland, Ohio, Toccara Montgomery is widely recognized as a force to be reckoned with in American freestyle wrestling. Her journey in wrestling started at the tender age of fifteen when she joined the wrestling team at East Technical High School in Cleveland, even though at the time, the sport was dominated by men. This didn't deter young Toccara, and she indeed made her mark by winning the 2000 U.S. junior national title under the 68-kg division.

After high school, Toccara attended the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, where she competed for the Cumberlands Patriots wrestling club. Here, she continued to weave her legacy by accumulating a flawless 29–0 dual record and bagging the 2004 Women's Collegiate National Championship title in the 158-pound division. Toccara graduated from Cumberlands with a bachelor's degree in education in 2006.

In the early 2000s, Toccara became a prominent figure in freestyle wrestling. She joined the U.S. world wrestling team in 2001 and made a strong impression at her first senior appearance at the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, taking home a silver medal in the 68-kg division. This impressive debut earned her the distinguished title of Women's Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling, making her the first American to receive such an honor.

Throughout her career, Toccara had numerous accomplishments, including winning four U.S. junior and senior national titles (2001–2004) and earning two Pan American championship trophies in 2002 and 2003. She represented the United States on one of the grandest stages in world sports—the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where she emerged seventh. This capped off a successful run, making her one of the most dominant female wrestlers in U.S. sporting history.

After her illustrious athletic career, Toccara channeled her passion for wrestling into coaching. Since 2010, she has been serving as the full-time head coach for the women's wrestling squad at Lindenwood University, making waves in Saint Charles, Missouri.

In a nutshell, Toccara Montgomery's story is a testament to passion, dedication, and resilience. From her humble beginnings at East Technical High School to making history on the world stage and inspiring the next generation of athletes, she has profoundly shaped the American women's wrestling landscape.