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By Mike Finn
This column appeared in the latest issue of WIN Magazine. Click on the cover or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe.
An emotional Felicity Taylor worked to hold back her tears as she spoke about how great it was to be part of women’s wrestling history on Nov. 12, when the Iowa women’s wrestling team held its first-ever home event before a record 8,207 fans in Iowa City.
And considering what the 5-foot, 116-pound native of Spillville, Iowa, had gone through in her wrestling past to earn such a moment, it was not surprising to see her emotions. Sure, she won over 100 high school matches competing against boys, before earning All-American honors and a national title at McKendree in Illinois, before making history as part of the first-ever NCAA Div. I Power-5 team. There had to be plenty of tough times considering she started wrestling when few other girls did and dealt with plenty of doubters … as well as boy wrestlers who forfeited to, rather than wrestle her.

After spending four years at
McKendree, where Felicity Taylor (top) earned three All-American honors and
a national title, the Iowa native is part of Iowa’s first-ever varsity team. (John Johnson photo)
The Trailblazer Duals provided Taylor an opportunity to focus on what’s right about the growth of women’s wrestling … while also looking back at those before her who might have had a tougher time in gaining acceptance from others. “Our team motto is, ‘For Her,’,” Taylor said. ‘We are doing this for ‘her’, the people who paved the way for us and for the people who are to come after us. To see all these little girls wanting our autographs or just being here and supportive was amazing.”
Taylor is the oldest of three siblings. And as a former Level 8 competitive gymnast, she was strong enough to wrestle with her younger brother Zach until she took up wrestling. I’ve been covering wrestling for 35 years and the noise emitted from these fans was no different than if the legendary Hawkeye men were wrestling. … story at … WIN-magazine.com/Wrestling+News

‘It’s time that we join in’: Alfred State launches first women’s wrestling program in SUNY schools
ALFRED, N.Y. (WKBW) — Over the past few years, women’s sports has gained more popularity and recognition than it ever has. Just this year alone, we’ve seen multiple record-breaking events that caught the nation’s attention. Iowa Women’s Basketball — playing in front of over 55,000 fans, Nebraska Women’s Volleyball — selling out a crowd of over 98,000 fans and the WNBA Finals — breaking attendance and viewership records.
The idea that “no one watches women’s sports” is simply not true. As the advocacy for and commitment to excelling women’s sports reaches a national level, it’s helping pave the way for younger athletes to find their place in a sport. Alfred State is leading the charge in excelling women’s sports here in New York State as the school launched its women’s wrestling program, the first in the SUNY school system. Next year, Buffalo State will be joining the Alfred State as the second-active SUNY program. This a very unique program. Along with the team being the first of its kind in SUNY, there are a list of firsts with this team. First time wrestlers, like Sophomore Judiely Ventura.
She’s a transfer student from The Bronx and has never participated on an athletic team before. Neither has she lived away from home. The idea of joining a team of some sort, was just what she needed. “What better way to have a family away from family, a home away from home than joining a sports team,” Ventura said. “Now some of these girls have become my close friends here.” … story at … WKBW.com/Its-time-that-we-join-in-alfred-state-launches-first-womens-wrestling-program-in-suny-schools

December 7, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized