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Girls wrestling in Georgia explodes, but will colleges follow?

Participation in the sport has increased rapidly after sanctioning, but colleges still lack wrestling programs for women

In ninth grade Jordan Epstein made an agreement with her dad to try out wrestling after playing softball for three years. She felt wrestling offered her a new chance to develop herself. “When I came into it, it was very welcoming and everyone just treated me like family,” Epstein said. Epstein immediately felt the warmth from the team at Greenbrier High School near Augusta, and now after completing her junior season, she says she has loved every second.
The Georgia High School Association sanctioned girls wrestling in 2018. Across the state, roster numbers increased by over 200% from 2018-22. Fourteen 14 different weight classes and team duals wrestling championships were added during the 2022-23 school year to encompass the rapid growth. Many high school girls in Georgia, like Epstein, are falling in love with wrestling and want to continue in college. But many struggle to find a college with their desired academic field. Although girls wrestling is growing fast at the high school level, few Division I programs have added the sport.
The growth at Georgia high schools comes thanks to many factors. Both coach Donnell Bradley of Greenbrier High School and coach Allen Newton of Carrollton High School said their current team members recruit their friends. Also, Newton said he has been successful in recruiting girls from sports like lacrosse, soccer and competitive cheering.
Carrollton placed first at the inaugural girls’ team duals wrestling state championship in March. Greenbrier, which placed third, competed with crossover athletes at the 2023 wrestling championships. Epstein, Kaylynn Hottenrott and Ryan Lewis qualified for state by placing top five at sectionals – and all had spent most of their early years playing other sports. Epstein and Hottenrott came from softball careers while Lewis was a swimmer. Epstein said the transition from softball to wrestling was smooth. “The team was very accommodating,” said Epstein. “So you learn all the new stuff in the beginning weeks, and then you slowly get faster and do harder stuff. Even though it’s two different sports, I feel like it’s easier to pick up on and especially for girls wrestling, where you have a lot of new girls coming in, in high school. They (coaches) know that so they can accommodate to that.” Epstein, Hottenrott, and Lewis are all interested in wrestling in college. … rest of story at AJC.com/High-school-sports/hs-sports-girls-wrestling-in-georgia-explodes-but-will-colleges-follow

Oregon girls high school wrestling becomes sanctioned sport
BY STEELE HAUGEN | CENTRAL OREGON DAILY NEWS |  
For decades in the state of Oregon, it’s been the boys who have ruled the mats of high school wrestling. But now it’s more and more girls putting their foot on the line and getting their hand raised.
Girls wrestling just became a sanctioned high school sport in Oregon.
“Wrestling coaches are behind this, this movement,’ said head Redmond High School wrestling coach Kris Davis. “This is what’s keeping wrestling alive and in the forefront, I think, is girls wrestling right now, especially in the college ranks. And so I think everybody is really pushing for this type of, of movement of growing girls wrestling.”

MORE OREGON WRESTLING NEWS: Redmond High School wrestling team attributes success to academic coach

MORE OREGON WRESTLING NEWS: MaKenna Duran becomes first girls wrestling champion at Crook County High

It is the first sport the Oregon School Activities Association has added since softball in 1979.
“It’s nice to add another sport,” said OSAA Executive Director Peter Webber. “Something would probably be long overdue, and we’re excited to get that going and work out the details as we go through.”
According to the OSAA, girls wrestling participation in the U.S. increased 46% to 53,000.
In Oregon, it went from 850 to more than 1,100 just last year. “It’s grown a lot,” said first-ever girls state champion wrestler at Redmond High Mackenzi Sharon. “It used to be pretty small, not very many girls, but there’s a ton of tough girls here, and I think wrestling each other growing up has definitely pushed towards that.”
Central Oregon girls’ wrestling had one of its best years in 2023, from bringing home girl’s team titles to the first-ever girl’s state champions at Crook County and Redmond High. “I’m pretty excited to see where it takes our program to have us separate and have like our own fundraising and we can just kind of take it in the direction we need to go to improve the best for the girls,” said Sharon. … rest of story at Centraloregondaily.com/oregon-high-school-girls-wrestling-sanctioned

By any measure, girls wrestling is off to a gold medal start in Wyoming

The dream became a reality shortly after 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23.
Eight girls competing on four mats at the Ford Wyoming Center checked in at the scorer’s table, wrapped either a red or green strap on their ankle and walked to the center of their respective mat. They shook their referee’s hand, exchanged a short handshake with each other and waited for the ref to blow his whistle.
After years of having to compete against boys at the state wrestling tournament, the girls finally took center stage at their own state tournament. “I thought it was so cool,” Wind River senior AnnaBeth Bornhoft said. “I was like, ‘Finally.’ I think they should have done this a while ago, but I’m really glad it did get to happen when I was in high school.”
By all accounts, the inaugural Wyoming State High School Girls Wrestling Championships were a success.
More than 200 girls competed in 14 weight classes over the two-day event. There were 361 total matches, culminating with the championship matches on night two.
According to incoming Wyoming High School Activities Association Commissioner Trevor Wilson – he’ll take over for Ron Laird when Laird retires on June 30 – this year’s state tournament was just the tip of the iceberg. “No. 1, I thought it was a huge success,” Wilson said. “It was a great addition to our tournament, and those that were there I think would all agree. “All the administrators and coaches I’ve talked to since state have had nothing but positive things to say about it.”
By the numbers

Girls had been competing against boys at the state tournament since 1998, when Kelly Walsh’s Sarah Tobin broke the gender barrier. Over the years, more girls joined the ranks and some even placed at the state tournament, but their overall numbers remained small.
Those numbers increased dramatically when the WHSAA announced on April 28 that girls’ wrestling would be a state-sanctioned event. … rest of story at Trib.com/wrestling/by-any-measure-girls-wrestling-is-off-to-a-gold-medal-start-in-wyoming

May 16, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

USMC BEACH WRESTLING NATIONALS RETURN TO CAROLINA BEACH, N.C., MAY 19-20 FEATURING 10 AGE DIVISIONS

The U.S. Marine Corps Beach Wrestling National Championships will return to Carolina Beach, N.C., on May 19-20. This will be the ninth time that Carolina Beach has hosted the U.S. Beach Nationals, the most of any city.

This is the annual national championships for Beach Wrestling, which is an associated style within USA Wrestling and United World Wrestling. The tournament will be once again be held on the popular public beach in Carolina Beach, right next to the boardwalk.

The 10 age divisions for the U.S. Beach Nationals are: 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, U17, Junior, U20, Senior and Masters. There is competition for both men and women, Weight classes will be determined using the blocked weight system for all divisions except for U17 Men and Women, U20 Men and Women and Senior Men and Women. … rest of story at Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/April/11/USMC-Beach-Wrestling-Nationals-in-Carolina-Beach-NC

May 16, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

SEVEN COOL NEW THINGS AT THE USMC BEACH NATIONALS IN CAROLINA BEACH, N.C., MAY 20

We are a week away from the 2023 U.S. Marine Corps Beach Wrestling National Championships are held at the popular public beach right next to the boardwalk in Carolina Beach, N.C. on May 20.

Athletes will compete for national titles and All-American honors in 10 age divisions, with berths on U.S. international teams up for grabs at the Senior, U20 and U17 levels.

Anybody who has ever attended a USMC Beach Nationals understands that this a very competitive event held in a fun environment. Who would not enjoy a great day at the beach, while participating in a great wrestling tournament?

There will be some new cool things going on that we want people to know about before heading to Carolina Beach next weekend.

1. U.S. Marine Corps Coaches Social on May 19 – USA Wrestling is blessed to have a new sponsor for the U.S. Beach Nationals, the United States Marine Corps. As part of its support for the competition, there will be a USMC Coaches Social on Friday, May 19 at the Lazy Pirate Sports Bar and Grill from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. There will be U.S. Marines present at the social to interact with coaches and other USA Wrestling members, with some branded product give-aways. The social is being held as part of the optional weigh-ins at the Lazy Pirate, which is traditionally a great kick off to the weekend.

2. Ultimate X International Duals at the Lazy Pirate on May 19 – In addition to the optional weigh-in and the USMC Coaches Social at the Lazy Pirate on Friday May 19, a group of international beach wrestlers from Barbados and Jamaica are coming to Carolina Beach this year. The Ultimate X International Duals, held on the beach volleyball courts at the Lazy Pirate, will feature matches between the international guests and U.S. athletes. It will include bouts for men and women, and could be at a variety of age levels. There will be 2-of-3 series, thus the X reference. Wrestlers, coaches, families and fans can see some great beach wrestling bouts, while enjoy the food and beverages that makes the Lazy Pirate such a fun place for wrestling folks to hang out.

3. Second Chance Challenge Tournament featuring international athletes – While international athletes are welcome at the U.S. Beach Nationals, they will not be able to compete at the Senior, U20 and U17 levels, because those are World Team Trials events and are for U.S. citizens only. However, a special Second Chance Challenge Tournament will be offered for Senior athletes to get additional matches with our foreign guests. The U20 and U17 athletes may also be able to join in the Second Chance competition.

4. U17 and U20 divisions added as World Team qualifiers – The United States has sent teams to the U17 and U20 Beach World Championships the last two years. The results from the U.S. Beach Nationals were helpful in putting together teams, but the age divisions at the event (Junior, 16U, Senior) … rest of story at Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/May/12/Seven-cool-new-things-at-USMC-Beach-Nationals

May 16, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Newberry College to Add Women’s Wrestling in 2024

NEWBERRY, S.C. — Newberry College will add women’s wrestling as an intercollegiate sport beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. The addition was approved unanimously by the college’s Board of Trustees.
 
“Women’s wrestling is a rapidly growing sport, both regionally and nationally. Adding this program is a major step forward, part of Newberry College’s commitment to growing opportunities for female student-athletes,” said Newberry College Director of Athletics Sean Johnson.
 
The college will hire a head coach this summer to recruit a roster for competition.
 
There are currently 55 NCAA schools that sponsor women’s wrestling, 20 of them in Division II, including Emmanuel, Emory & Henry, King, Lincoln Memorial, and the University of Mount Olive. Other participating institutions in the region include Presbyterian (D-I), Campbellsville (NAIA), Cumberlands (NAIA), Ferrum (D-III), Greensboro (D-III), Life (NAIA), Montreat (NAIA), and St. Andrews (NAIA).
 
High school girls’ wrestling has grown exponentially, with participation growing from 35,653 participants in 2022 to 52,406 in 2023: an increase of 16,753 wrestlers in one year. In South Carolina, 190 wrestlers represented 40 schools at the state high school tournament.
 
“We are so very grateful for the Newberry College administration’s recognition of the educational value and diversity that women’s wrestling will bring to their campus,” said Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. “Newberry College proved when it added men’s wrestling in 2004 that they could be nationally relevant and competitive in a very short period of time. This is just another example of Newberry College being a trailblazer in intercollegiate athletics. This announcement represents the 158th intercollegiate women’s team, and the 90th NCAA-affiliated program, that will be competing across America.”
 
“We’re thrilled about Newberry College’s decision to add women’s wrestling as an intercollegiate sport, as it will create more opportunities for women to attend college and compete in athletics,” said Sally Roberts, founder and CEO of Wrestle Like A Girl. “With nearly 40% of female wrestlers competing at the NCAA level identifying as first-generation college students, and another 45% identifying as non-white, Newberry’s decision will help drive a united goal to provide more opportunities for girls and women.” … rest of story at Newberrywolves.com/news/2023/5/15/newberry-college-to-add-womens-wrestling-in-2024
 

May 16, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment