In recent years, highschools all around America have experienced a dramatic rise in girls wrestling. A wrestling site recorded that girls wrestling increased from 31,654 participants in the 2021-22 school year to 49,127 participants in the 2022-2023 school year. According to the article, this was the highest increase in participation since 1993.
“Girls wrestling started to have more of an impact about 5 years ago when colleges started having it,” said ACHS co-ed wrestling Coach Chris Marshall. “There is a massive growth around the country with more scholarships for girls in the sport of wrestling, even with limited high school experience.”
“It’s a great sport for girls!” said junior Naria Medrano Quintanilla. She has been on the ACHS team for 2 and a half years after deciding to try it out with a friend freshman year after finding a flier for the team. “We wanted to join the team because we [wanted to] get strong and look cool,” said Quintanilla.
These are goals that Quintanilla certainly believes she has succeeded in. “Wrestling has affected me for the better,” she said. “I’ve made such a good community, making so many friends that genuinely want to see me succeed— as well as my coaches [who give me] support in and out of the sport and genuinely care for me, going above and beyond from time to time.”
Despite her enjoyment, though, Quintanilla still experiences some unfairness and bias as a female in a male dominated sport. “I’ve definitely experienced discrimination where boys will refuse to wrestle with me or [I’ll be] mistaken for a manager,” said Quintanilla. “I’ve been underestimated [by boys] quite a few times.”
Her coach says he doesn’t see a huge difference in how boys and girls perform, but there are some differences in their styles. “The girls are [generally] more flexible and have a bit more of the technique side of wrestling,” said Marshall. “Whereas the boys’ technique is there, but they can rely on their strength to make up for lack of wrestling knowledge.”
By joining the team, girls not only gain physical ability but mental strength as well. “You become aware of how tough you are,” said Quintanilla. “When you tell people you wrestle, they become shocked because it’s unusual to see a girl on the mat.”
She noted the specific strengths she has gained, like discipline and pride. “[I’ve learned] to keep going even when I mentally don’t want to because, like my coach says, your mind gives up before your body does. [I’ve also learned] to keep fighting because I want to win and prove to myself I was better than last time,” she said.
Quintana says she is excited about the recent rise in girls wrestling and hopes it teaches girls to work hard.
“There’s a level of confidence and pride you gain from wrestling in general, but it has even more of an impact when you’re a girl,” Quintanilla said. “The mentality is something you’ll use universally for the rest of your life.”
