Updated, 9/28
Orchard Park girls have been wrestling on mixed teams with boys since 2018–up until now. OP’s first all-girls wrestling team hits the mats for the first time ever this winter, but pre-season training has begun.
The school wrestling season is during the winter from November to early February. The Girls’ Team will hold an open mat for area girls every Saturday from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. until November 2 at the Orchard Park Middle School, with one exception: Saturday, September 28 will be from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. No experience is needed, as the fundamentals will be taught. The cost is $20 and includes an OP Girls’Wrestling T-shirt.
“It’s really cool that our school is providing a preseason experience for girls who have never wrestled before,” said Freshman Charlotte Newell, sister of wrestler Ella Newell.
Wrestling teaches competitors to push themselves past physical and mental limits. It also teaches the value of commitment and provides lifelong friendships. Now is a great time to join!
Up until now, girls practiced against boys but wrestled against girls in competition at predominantly male meets. Now they will be able to practice against girls and will compete fully against girls at their own practices and separate events, hopefully growing Women’s Wrestling.
Another major change that female wrestlers will see this year is that the girls’ team will be practicing and competing in Freestyle wrestling from here on out, whereas, in the past, girls wrestled Folkstyle, like the boys.
Freestyle is seen in college and in the Olympics. This change will help better prepare high school female wrestlers for the next level of wrestling. Many are excited about the advantages this gives the girls for their future in wrestling. On the other hand, this change was abrupt, and many female wrestlers have to leave behind their years of experience and expertise in Folkstyle to learn a type of wrestling foreign to them.
However, this change also means “that this upcoming season will be the perfect time for aspiring female wrestlers to join the team. Most veteran wrestlers are new to the Freestyle scene, so any beginners would not have to worry about feeling behind,” offered Wrestler Olivia Phillips.
There is one other concern with the new all-female team, and that is the fact female wrestlers are in short supply. When wrestling with the boys’ team, the girls had a full room of athletes in various weight classes. Veteran female wrestlers are concerned that there aren’t the numbers needed to fill all weight classes and to supply practice partners within a reasonable weight for each wrestler.
Wrestling teaches competitors to push themselves past physical and mental limits. It also teaches the value of commitment and provides lifelong friendships. Now is a great time to join!
“If any girls are interested in wrestling, contact Coach Delucia at the middle school, or reach out to any female wrestler at OPHS,” encouraged Phillips.
