The newer generations are pushing to change the gender norms associated with sports. In a historic development for East, a women’s wrestling team is being formed for the first time, paving the way for a new era in the school’s sports culture.
Over the last few years, the East Meck wrestling team has evolved into a strong contender for conference and regional championships.
As the season approaches, the girls are training hard for what lies ahead. Junior Cole Kennerly discussed the opportunities of having more females on the team. “I think it’s gonna be better because we can get more matches as a team and more sponsorships. It would build our community up, and women’s wrestling is helping promote inclusivity,” Kennerly said.
The stigma surrounding women in traditionally male-dominated sports has decreased significantly, and this has made way for some powerful leaders and changes. According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, from 1994-2022, the number of women who wrestle in high school has grown from 804 to over 31,654. Kennerly commented on the status of gender in wrestling: “It is still a big thing for wrestling; it is seen as only a men’s sport, but it shouldn’t matter because as a combat sport, if you enjoy it, it shouldn’t matter your gender,” Kennerly said.
For the 2024-2025 season, the girl’s team will compete alongside the guy’s team. Senior Izzy Stanton described her anticipation for the upcoming season. “Knowing that I am making a safer space for women in the future for wrestling is what excites me the most about wrestling this school year. I think that there isn’t as much shame anymore. Cole Kennerly has been great at recruiting girls and making everyone feel at home,” Stanton said.
Along with the typical complaints of the foul smell, Stanton highlighted the most prominent downsides for the girls’ on the team. Genetically, men have more circulating testosterone than women resulting in less muscle mass in women. “The guys’ are typically much stronger than us, so wrestling them is very hard,” Stanton said. Despite this, girls have been able to learn a lot from the experienced wrestlers.
Additionally, Stanton discussed how some of the guys might feel with the influx of girls joining the team. “I
think the guys get uncomfortable sometimes, because they see us as inferior and weaker. They also are not used to wrestling girls.” However, senior Dennis Matthews shared a different opinion: “I think everybody has a good relationship with each other and nobody is judgemental. The fact that we have a full team of girls is inspiring, since it shows that girls can do just as much, if not more than guys can,” Matthews said.
The tentative date for the season opener is October 31, 2024. The girls are setting an example for future
wrestlers, and as the date approaches, the pressure of having a successful season looms. With the addition of a new team to wrestling, East women’s wrestling strives to set off a domino effect of positive changes for the athletic community. If men can do it, why can’t women?
