While wrestling is recognized as a high school sport through Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), girls wrestling specifically isn’t recognized in many states including Michigan. Northview is among the schools with a recent addition of a girls wrestling team.
Junior Alexandra Barto was one of the first girls to sign up for the wrestling team this year.
“I always wanted to [wrestle] since freshman year,” Barto said. “My dad wrestled and I always thought it was an interesting sport.”
Not wanting to be one of the only girls on the team, Barto’s freshman and sophomore year she didn’t participate. But her junior year she decided to join and recruit other girls as well, one being junior Hailey Landers.
“I remember my first win felt so good because I was working really hard and it finally paid off,” Landers said.
When the female wrestlers tell people they’re on the wrestling team, most responses are positive, though some boys on opposing teams don’t like the idea.
“When you’re in a male dominated sport and you’re the only girl in your weight class, you already know you’re being thought less of,” Barto said.
The female wrestlers don’t let other teams’ views of them bring down their spirits. Everyone on the team supports and encourages one another to do their best.
“We’re all together like a family,” sophomore wrestler Vanessa Coronado said.
The girls team needs 10 players to run as a separate team from the boys. They encourage any girls thinking about wrestling to join next year as this season they only had eight.
“[Wrestling is] really hard, but it’s so much fun,” Landers said. “The bond you make with your team is great.”
