Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US and since its inclusion in the 2004 Olympics, the Women’s National Team has taken home 13 medals. In similar fashion, the girls’ wrestling team has grown to be a small but formidable group of young women who also dominate on the mat. Even though this team might not have the highest meet attendance, it is bursting with spirit and personality. 

“To be honest, I didn’t think I was going to join at first, it seemed really intimidating,” Mary Kennedy (’26) said. “One of my friends really wanted to join with me, so I started going to green days and eventually grew to enjoy the sport and the rewarding feeling of putting my best effort into every match.”

For both girls and boys wrestling, practice is five times a week after school, with meets taking place over the weekend. Athletes are expected to attend all practices and meets to ensure the team is run at a varsity level. 

“This season was a great experience, and taught me a lot about diligence, effort, and mental strength – all things wrestling brings out in you,” Liana Carr (’26) said. “Also, I can safely say that I’m much stronger than I was before the season started.”

In a sport historically dominated by boys, the road to the spotlight is not without its trials for the young women. Head Coach Jae Sim has had to adapt to both coaching and practice styles. 

“I do not have any experience with wrestling, but I have coached other sports before, and [Coach Sim] really wanted a female athlete that could help mentor the girls,” Carrie May, new Assistant Coach, said. “During practice it is very apparent that this is a male dominated sport. Originally, we were practicing by ourselves in the beginning of the season, this allowed a lot of time for the new wrestlers to learn technique and ask questions. Part way through the season, we started practicing with the boys team and this increased the intensity of practice.”

As one of the newer sports offered to Virginia schools, girls’ wrestling is emerging as a prominent option for girls at Madison. 

“It’s interesting because it seems to me like girls wrestling has really started to kick off,” Carr said. “There were a lot of people at the schools we competed against who seemed to have recently joined the sport, so this is probably the best time to start.”

Although the team is small, they are, without a doubt, making their mark in matches and tournaments. 

“Where I think the girls really shined was during tournaments, seeing the other girls teams really brought out a competitive nature in the Madison Wrestlers, but also a camaraderie with talking to the girls from other teams and encouraging them” May said. “Throughout the season I saw our girls become friends with other wrestlers from other teams and really create a community for themselves throughout the county.”