CALDWELL — After a history-making turn as the only female Olympic boxer to come from Idaho, a hero’s welcome was in store for Caldwell’s Alyssa Mendoza as she returned home from France.
The Middleton High graduate, whose 21st birthday is Saturday, waved to neighbors lining the downtown streets as she sat atop a fire truck during a brief homecoming parade, and tearfully thanked her family and community for their support during a reception at Indian Creek Steakhouse. She was honored by Mayor Jarom Wagoner in a proclamation declaring Aug. 16 to be Alyssa Mendoza Day, and a Hometown Hero plaque, gift basket and an honorary Key to the City were all bestowed upon her.
“I always keep saying that it’s unreal, even the feeling of all this right now just feels like unexpected blessings,” said Mendoza’s mother, Wendy Mendoza. “The thing I always tell her is, dreams really do come true.”
A featherweight, Mendoza’s journey to the 2024 Olympics involved qualification attempts at tournaments in Chile, Italy and finally, Thailand, to get her ticket to compete.