Wrestling has growing group of girls in its grasp
Staff writer
Girls’ wrestling continues to grow rapidly, and that momentum is being felt even in smaller Kansas communities like Hillsboro.
Participation has steadily increased in Hillsboro since the sport was officially sanctioned at the high school level in 2019.
At Hillsboro Wrestling Club, longtime coach Scott O’Hare said the biggest change in recent years has been the number of girls stepping onto the mat, not a wholesale shift in how the program operates.
“It really has not changed much in terms of how we run our program and practices at the youth, middle school or high school levels,” O’Hare said.
Hillsboro has 15 girls among 46 wrestlers in the youth program, which serves ages five to 14. In high school, seven girls are competing this season, alongside 12 boys. That’s the largest number in the program’s history. Middle school participation has averaged four to six girls in recent years.
O’Hare, who has been involved with the Hillsboro program since 1996 and has served as coach since the 2002–03 season, said growth has coincided with broader structural changes in the sport. As more states sanctioned girls’ wrestling, tournaments began offering separate divisions, eliminating the need for girls to compete against boys.
“That’s been a huge factor,” he said. “At all levels now, boys and girls are no longer competing against each other. That’s opened the door for more participation.”
Increased numbers have also led to practical changes, including the addition of another coach so the program can adequately cover boys and girls at tournaments. Practices, however, remain largely integrated because of space and scheduling limitations.
“Our approach is basically the same for all,” O’Hare said. “If you wrestle, you’re a wrestler. It doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a boy.”
That philosophy has helped maintain a unified culture even as the girls program grows. O’Hare said the girls have taken more pride in representing their own team, but he has not seen a major shift in the culture.
“They’re still part of the same program and they support each other very well,” he said.
Opportunities beyond high school have expanded rapidly. O’Hare estimates that nearly 150 colleges and universities now offer women’s wrestling at the junior college, NAIA, and NCAA levels, with scholarship opportunities increasing each year. The first women’s college national championship wrestling tournament is scheduled for this season.
At the national level, USA Wrestling continues to expand its women’s Olympic and international programs, creating pathways for athletes to compete beyond their high school careers.
Locally, Hillsboro has focused on exposure and mentorship to bring younger girls into the sport. High school wrestlers helping at youth practices and girls-only offseason camps with elite clinicians have played a role.
While some nearby programs have seen even faster growth, in some cases with girls outnumbering boys, O’Hare expects participation statewide to continue rising before eventually leveling off.
“I do believe we will continue to see growth over the next five years,” he said. “How much, we’ll have to wait and see.”
As the sport continues to evolve, O’Hare hopes increased visibility also will lead to a better understanding of wrestling overall.
“I wish more people would come out and watch, learn how the sport works, and support the teams,” he said. “I think many would gain a greater appreciation for it.”