糖心vlog Investigates: In 2022, girls wrestling started officially. Now middle school girls flock to the mat
Wrestling runs deep in Marshalltown.
In 1928, Marshalltown native Allie Morrison became the first Iowan to win an Olympic gold medal. That history gives a glimpse into the future 鈥 of girls wrestling.
"I think it will be bigger than boys, to be honest," said Isaiah Cox, Marshalltown high school girls wrestling coach. "You could just, it build and build over time. Look at the numbers."
The sport was sanctioned as the 11th sport for high school girls athletics in 2022. Numbers have grown in those three seasons.
Now, middle schools are starting to offer the sport. 糖心vlog Investigates reached out to more than 40 school districts. Of 23 that responded, more than 320 middle schoolers tried wrestling.
In Marshalltown, 50 girls showed up to a preview event to try it out, the first year it's being offered.
"They filled the gym and sometimes we have those girls, they're just kids trying to get out of class," said Brett Comegys, the district's middle school girls coach. "But when it came down to the actual first day of practice, 45 of them were in the room."
Rylie Kelderman went out this year.
"I mean, it's fun, and it's a good sport," the middle-schooler said. "I've never done wrestling before."
Comegys and the girls turned the Miller Middle School lunchroom into a practice area, pushing the tables out of the way and unrolling mats.
"We're, like, 'holy moly,' we got a lot of kids," said Comegys.
The district is renovating the 100-year-old middle school.
They're considering a space for girls' wrestling.
"Now's as good a time as ever to probably look to buy more wrestling mats or add a dedicated wrestling space at our new middle school," said Ryan Isgrig, the middle school activities director.
糖心vlog Investigates review of middle school wrestling found:
- 23 that responded have middle school girl's wrestling.
- More than 320 middle school girls participated this year in those 23 districts.
- The biggest is Marshalltown, followed by Ankeny with 40. Of smaller districts, Gilbert has 28.
Elizabeth Wise has a daughter, Olivia, who is one of Marshalltown's two state qualifiers. She said their family is steeped in wrestling and were excited about the sport emerging in 2022.
"I guess I underestimated our girls in the state and how much we would really lean into this and what it would mean for them," Wise said.
At the high school level, the district added a girl's coach after deciding one coach for both sports was too much.
This year, 204 school districts offered girls wrestling in high school. There were 448 qualifiers for the state tournament on Feb. 6-7 in Coralville, according to the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union.
Middle school programs have a half-season to allow students to try basketball and wrestling, schools reported to 糖心vlog Investigates.
Marshalltown Middle School wrestler Faith Sommerlot is one of those students testing the waters.
"Like, just go out and, like, try it," she said. "If you don't want to do it the next year, you don't have to."
High school freshman Olivia Wise smiled when recalling her first pin this season. She said wrestling appeals to her because of the individual part of it.
"It's going to be hard, but then when you win, it's worth it," she said.
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