Of the nearly 300,000 high school wrestlers in the United States in 2023, 16 percent are female. However, as the sport gains traction, a growing number of female wrestlers are finding ways to overcome obstacles to pursue their passion for the sport.
Originally starting with one girl on the team, the landscape of female wrestling at IHS has gradually shifted over the years. Today, the wrestling team is made up of 53 athletes, including eight girls, and is led by wrestling coach Mathies Long. For their first tournament of the season, members of the team competed at the Panther Invitational at Hillcrest High School on Nov. 10, 2023, taking home first and fourth-place awards.
“I think people view wrestling as a male-dominated sport,” Jordan Johnston, assistant wrestling coach at IHS, said. “This viewpoint should change because girls wrestling is growing really fast, especially in Texas. It’s a sport that anyone can do and I [believe] that it is good for girls to join because it helps to build [their] strength and confidence.”
On a personal level, the sport has left a lasting impact on many wrestlers.
“A lot of girls don’t do [wrestling] because they think it’s ‘manly’ or gross,” Maialane Hughes, a sophomore on the team, said. “Don’t get me wrong– it’s not for the lighthearted, but it’s also a lot of fun, and the idea that only ‘fit’ men can wrestle is outdated and not true. In fact, wrestling has made me more body-positive because it’s made me love my body more since I know what it can do.”
Some female wrestlers enjoy the freedom that the sport provides.
“During fourth period, girls’ wrestling does the All-Sports lift in the field house with every other ‘guy’ sport, and there are only three girls, including me,” freshman Raygan Stair, who placed fourth at the recent competition, said. “One time, a kid came up to me and told me he thought ‘I was strong as heck’ and [that] ‘I should keep up my good work’. [As a female wrestler], I felt very proud that I was being recognized by others for my strength.”
Coaches hope to educate others on common misconceptions about the sport.
“I think coaches, and even my wrestlers, have to do a good job of educating people on what wrestling actually is,” Long said. “[At the moment], males gravitate to it more than females just because of the physical nature of the sport. [In the future], I would like to continue to grow our numbers, [which] comes with getting more girls exposed to the sport.”
Being part of the team means learning from both wins and losses.
“[Even though] I lost this weekend at our varsity tournament, I was proud to be a woman wrestler,” Hughes said. “I went out there and tried my hardest in front of a lot of people [which] takes a lot of courage. So far, I[’m] proud of all the improvements I made this year.”
One challenge many female wrestlers encounter is the lack of official recognition. Though the female version of the sport was introduced into the Olympics in 2004, many colleges across the country do not offer any opportunities for female wrestlers to play professionally.
“Women’s wrestling is not recognized by a lot of people– some colleges don’t even offer it,” Stair said. “[Regarding the stereotypes], I have been told that I should stick to ‘girlier sports’ or that guys don’t prefer ‘muscular girls. However, my coaches and teammates have helped me tremendously, by push[ing] me to my absolute limits– even when I feel like I am done.”
Ultimately, the team hopes that there will be more female interest in the sport.
“This sport can teach you so much– whether you are there for a week or four years,” Long said. “I don’t just want to teach kids wrestling, but I also want to prepare them for life, so I hope that more kids give us a chance. Our door is always open.”
