Girls wrestling has become the fastest-growing high school sport in the country, according to the Associated Press.
AVON LAKE, Ohio — Girls wrestling is experiencing a surge in popularity across Ohio.
Avon Lake senior and state champion Rejan Alhashash has seen firsthand the sport’s incredible growth.
Alhashash mentioned that when she initially began with wrestling, it was not an officially recognized sport. However, she is thrilled to witness the tremendous growth in the sport, especially with the increasing participation of young girls in youth programs.
Ohio witnessed its first girls wrestling tournament in 2020, where around 20 teams of girls took part. The number of participating teams has since more than tripled in a short span of four years.
According to OHSAA data, 63 schools had a girls wrestling team last year, an example of how rapidly the sport is gaining traction.
The rise in popularity of girls wrestling in Ohio is reflective of a nationwide trend. According to the Associated Press, girls wrestling is now considered the fastest-growing high school sport in the United States.
More competitors mean tougher fields, according to Avon Lake senior Mallory Zadel.
“The talent is getting so much better. It’s a lot more competitive than it was my first year,” Zadel said. “It’s become a lot more intense and difficult to get on the podium at each tournament and we’ve seen brackets this year with 64 girls in it, which is crazy because my first year there was only maybe 16 if we could get that many.”
For some athletes, wrestling has not only helped them develop their athletic skills but also transformed their personal lives.
Avon Lake senior Lola Seoane said the sport has helped improve her overall health.
“I went from really bad eating habits to watching my weight,” said Seoane. “It feels good having that self-discipline, which I was not really used to.”
Seoane noted lessons learned on the mat have also translated to the classroom.
“I feel more prepared for things like my midterms,” Seoane explained. “Like yesterday, I came on time, I wasn’t stressed, and I did great.”
The journey of these athletes would not be possible without the strong support from their communities.
Alhashash recalls her family’s initial surprise at her decision to pursue wrestling, but their support has since blossomed.
“My mom was really shocked, she was like, ‘You wanna wrestle? I didn’t know girls can do that,’ but they’re really supportive now and lots of friends come out to support tournaments that are nearby, which is great seeing that the whole city of Avon Lake really supports the girls team,” she said.
The rise of girls wrestling has opened doors for young women to showcase their abilities, proving that anything is possible.
Seoane spoke to the profound effect the sport has had on women’s lives:
“You can see now women are starting to glow because it gives women an opportunity to show what we actually got and what we can bring to the table. It’s changed a lot of people’s lives.”
