Out of the 50 states which have sanctioned boys wrestling as a highschool sport, 14 lack a ladies wrestling choice as an formally sanctioned sport. Kentucky is a kind of 14 states. Paducah Tilghman Assistant Wrestling Coach and KY USA Wrestling Ladies’s Workforce Director, Steffanie Hampton, is one among many who’re attempting to alter that.
Hampton will signify Kentucky in Washington D.C. for a Congressional Wrestling Caucus Breakfast and Advocacy for ladies wrestling being held on Wednesday morning.
In an outline of the occasion on wrestlelikeagirl.org, the group hopes this occasion will assist deliver ladies wrestling to the desk of Members of Congress.
‘This highly effective day will deliver collectively woman wrestlers from the remaining 14 states which have but to acknowledge ladies’ highschool wrestling as an official sport with Members of Congress. These student-athletes will advocate with details and information for elevated alternatives of their respective states. On this fiftieth yr of Title IX, empowering ladies to make use of their voices by actionable advocacy, mixed with grassroots work, will assist the event of essential management expertise wanted to unlock and leash the potential of America’s future leaders.’
In the mean time, ladies are in a position to wrestle at the highschool stage, however aren’t in a position to compete as an official sanctioned sport. Tilghman presently has one feminine wrestler and hopes so as to add extra within the upcoming wrestling season.
Kendra Johnston has made a reputation for herself because the solo woman on the wrestling group, bringing house a KYWCA State Title. She additionally earned ‘Most Excellent Wrestler’ final season as effectively.
“I used to be actually impressed with Kendra final yr,” Hampton mentioned. “She’s wrestled since she was younger however she hadn’t competed since earlier than COVID the place she would have needed to compete in opposition to boys. However this previous yr she had the chance to wrestle ladies and she or he got here out and simply smashed folks, she didn’t need to surrender factors and competed like she had nothing to lose.”
Hampton had a profitable wrestling profession of her personal. She attended highschool in Michigan, which grew to become the twenty ninth state to sanction ladies wrestling in Might of 2021. From there she wrestled on the collegiate stage at Campbellsville College in Campbellsville, KY.
“Once I began wrestling it wasn’t unusual for me to be the one ladies on the event,” Hampton mentioned.
She says it’s the identical in the present day in Kentucky, though ladies wrestling has change into extra standard as of late. In response to an NFHS Excessive College Athletics Participation Survey, 21,124 ladies are concerned in wrestling throughout the nation.
Hampton hopes that quantity continues to develop throughout the nation and particularly in Kentucky in order that extra groups may be established and Kentucky officers can sanction the game.
“I’d prefer to see the state sanctioned to the purpose the place we’re filling ladies groups,” Hampton mentioned. “Ideally I’d prefer to see ladies wrestling as frequent as boys wrestling within the state.”
This breakfast in Washington is what many hope shall be a step in the correct route to get the sanctioning course of began. Till then ladies will proceed to compete on the mat and combat for his or her proper at an official KHSAA State Title.