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anuary 28, 2019: a seemingly normal day when histling being something that will not only help people tory was made. who are physically active, but benefit those who aren’t. On that day, West Albany High School created the “It makes me more confident, and it makes me feel first high school women’s wrestling team in its league. stronger,” said junior Ariana Martinez, who has been Since then, places like Sweet Home and Silverton have wrestling since she was a freshman. “It taught me a lot started teams as well. Women’s wrestling has become a more about perseverance. I got tossed down a lot menrecognized sport within our communitally and had to learn to get stronger.” ty and given young women a chance to Wrestling has not only provided its learn a sport that, for most of history, has athletes the ability to grow stronger, but been predominantly male. This action also a family that they are able to look to “IT MAKES ME MORE reinforced the idea that women can not for guidance and friendship. “We hope CONFIDENT, AND only play these tough sports, but also that everyone that joins our wrestling IT MAKES ME FEEL won’t be stuck with the men’s category, family wants to become part of that STRONGER.” being able to have their own spotlight. family,” assistant wrestling coach Bryan Women’s wrestling is a sport that has Barker said. “We don’t judge. Whether recently gained more and more popularyou’re a girl, a boy, you don’t identify ity, becoming an Olympic sport in 2004. as either, you’re gay or lesbian, we don’t This act helped women’s wrestling care. If you step in there, you are autobecome more popular and normalized amongst other matically part of our family.” sports, and, according to wrestling coach Casey Horn, it “We spend a lot of time with each other, going to is the fastest growing sport in America. meets and being in the locker room,” sophomore Maci One thing that is very commonly advertised is wresPearson said. The wrestling team is, as the coaches say,
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a family that stands with each other, helping each other get stronger and better at what they do. As opponents shoot and duck, trying to pin one another to the mat via physical strength and tricky tactics, many don’t doubt it’s a tough and rigorous sport. Those who join wrestling have had to develop the ability to keep their head in the game, staying strong even in the hardest situations. “We have [junior] Taylor Lumpkin, and she’s doing phenomenal. She is out kicking some butt, and it’s awesome to be a piece of it,” Barker said. “We’re going to put kids in situations which make them successful.” The team is actively looking for girls to join them for wrestling, regardless of their physical abilities and experience with the sport. “We have a lot of girls come into the room not knowing how to wrestle, but they have the spirit to learn it, Martinez said. With some people, they just walk into the room and you can tell they have potential. You can just come into the room and surprise yourself.”
Wrestling For A Chance WHAT IS IT TRULY LIKE BEING ON THE WOMEN’S WRESTLING TEAM? By Gigi Roldan
Sophomore Kylie Brown avoids her competitor in a match against Silverton on Jan. 19.
Photos by Austin Rudel
Junior Ariana Martinez wins her match in the Silverton duel on Jan. 19.
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Sophomore Aubrey Murphy begins her match against Silverton on Jan. 19.
FEBRUARY 2022
