“I started wrestling last year, and it was kind of a last-minute decision, but I don’t regret it at all,” senior wrestler Adelle Smith said.
She’s referring to Liberty’s girls’ wrestling team: a small, tight-knit community of empowered women athletes.
“In past years we’ve only had 2 to 3 members,” senior girls’ wrestling captain Kiona Hill said.
“We’re also mostly seniors,” senior Frankie McFadden said. “We’re trying to pull more underclassmen in so we can keep the program going,”
However, these small numbers in no way detract from the community. Members laud the experience, describing it as uplifting and welcoming.
“It’s one of the most exciting sports I’ve ever participated in, which is saying a lot because I’ve done track, rugby, and soccer,” Smith said. “Everyone was nice to me when I joined even though I knew nothing about wrestling.”
McFadden claims that “People there just want to have fun and they all love wrestling, so they’re willing to sort of tussle with you even if you’re not very good.”
Even with glowing reviews from members, girls’ wrestling remains small.
“I think a lot of girls fear that they’ll be perceived as too masculine if they join, since it’s very physical and contact-heavy,” said Smith.
“Not a lot of girls are super interested in it because of the stigma that it’s a man’s sport,” Hill said.
Members explain that another added factor in the lack of participation is the lack of knowledge about wrestling itself.
“I think the most intimidating factor is the unknown. But as soon as I actually learned about it, I fell in love with the sport,” Smith said, “When you’re watching wrestling on TV it looks so quick, you don’t really know what’s happening, and not much of the audience really understands the rules.”
Hill emphasizes why it’s so important that people push past these stereotypes.
“It’s a great way to learn self-defense and get stronger mentally and physically,” Hill said. “It opens up so many pathways to succeed.”
“The skills you learn in wrestling go beyond learning how to beat people up. You learn mental fortitude and how to push through struggles, which can be applied to all areas of your life,” Smith said.
Looking forward to breaking barriers and growing as a community, Liberty girls’ wrestling is ready for another amazing season.
