This past fall, two new students joined Midtown’s girls wrestling team, tripling the size of the girls’ roster. Over the years, the team has made strides to increase female representation among its wrestlers.
New recruit junior Emma Jordan responded to the call for girls to join the team. After participating in martial arts for seven years, she saw wrestling as an outlet for her skills.
“Pablo … one of the captains of the wrestling team, recruited a friend of mine who enticed me to join the team,” Jordan said. “And since I already did martial arts, I thought ‘That’s an amazing connection.’ He was interested in adding inclusivity within the team, wanting to make a more gender-inclusive environment for everyone.”
Even though she joined mid-season, Jordan has seen support from both the girls and the boys teams.
“It was a challenge [joining] in the middle, along with the fact I haven’t done it before,” Jordan said. “So, even doing some of the small things, I feel as though everyone else knows what they’re doing, and everyone has to slow down and help me. But people are willing to help, so it’s just an amazing community.”
The addition of girls has come at an advantageous time in the season, as previously, Nevaeh Taylor was the sole female wrestler on the team after joining last year. Head Coach Calvin Arnold believes the new girls’ presence has contributed to Taylor’s growth as a wrestler.
“[Taylor is] starting to learn more technique; being a lot more aggressive than she was last year,” Arnold said. “I can see the spark in her eyes with the two new girls coming out. It’s creating interest; the other girls have been asking a lot of questions. They want to know more about the sport. So, it’s been a great joy having them along.”
Assistant Coach Brooks Smith said he has also noticed a difference, as Taylor has become a leader for the newcomers.
“I think I’ve seen where [Taylor] is happy to have more girls on the team and have an opportunity to teach other girls,” Smith said. “To feel like she’s able to be a leader would probably be something that she’s happy to have versus trying just with the new-coming guys.”
Taylor said she sees the introduction of new team members as a sign of more things to come. She has noticed a growing interest in wrestling, especially among girls, that gives her hope for the future of the team and the sport as a whole.
“The new girls make me feel more comfortable being on the team,” Taylor said. “And it makes me realize that, with girls, the sport is getting revived. So, I feel like next year we’re probably going to have even more girls, which is amazing.”
Jordan has taken inspiration from her coaches, as well as her fellow wrestlers to continue training and searching for more experience.
“There is one girl, [Taylor], and she is so amazing,” Jordan said. “She placed third in states last year. Truly a phenomenal wrestler. Everyone on the wrestling team is so amazing and welcoming, but [Taylor], for one, has been super welcoming out of everyone. They just pushed me to do so much.”
However, competing as a female wrestler brings challenges. Taylor joined the team expecting more girls, but was surprised to learn she was the only one. Then, during the 2023-2024 wrestling season, she struggled to find matches with other girls.
“Last year, I was looking into sports I should play, and I decided that I should wrestle,” Taylor said. “I thought there were going to be more girls on the team, but last year I was the only girl. Last year when we had team duels, I didn’t really get to wrestle that much. I only had three matches last year, while the boys, they had fifteen or more.”
Arnold has tried to combat the lack of girls to wrestle, seeking out schools with a girls team that can allow the girls on his team to get critical competition experience.
“When I make the schedule, I try to find schools that have a girls program or at least one or two girls, so [the Midtown girls] can get some mat time,” Arnold said. “I try to find tournaments where they have boys and girls. That’s one of the first things I ask: ‘Do you have any girls?’ I hear a lot of nos; it’s hard finding schools that have girls.”
Arnold said he has taken the new additions as an opportunity for more growth. He believes they will help spark more interest for wrestling and help grow the girls team.
“I want to see the girls’ program grow,” Arnold said. “I’d probably like to have a full roster, but that’s some wishful thinking. I would like to see it grow for us: three girls this year, maybe to six or seven girls next year. A lot of times the biggest recruits are going to be the girls on the team already because they can tell them firsthand … how it’s going to go … I can try to ask them to come out all day long, but the girls on the team will be the biggest recruiters.”
Taylor said she thinks there are many misconceptions about wrestling as a male sport. But, alongside the growth of her own team, she has observed a revitalization in girls wrestling.
“I just think that more girls should try it,” Taylor said. “Some females say it’s a male sport, but that’s not true at all. A lot of females are doing it nowadays. The sport, we’re living in an era where it’s getting revived for a lot of women. So, don’t judge it until you try it.”
