Girls At State

upnortwrastlin · February 12, 2019, 01:34:38 PM

With girls wrestling in WI growing, I've been curious. We all know Lampe and Kilty with their outstanding performances. Have any other girls made the state tournament? How many have made sectionals?

M-Town Fan · February 12, 2019, 01:44:44 PM

#1 Rachel Trevino of Wausau West and #2 Josie Bartishofski of River Falls square off in the first round at the Menomonie sectional this weekend at 106!

mrv · February 12, 2019, 02:50:29 PM

D3 @ 120 Gabby Skidmore will stand a great chance of getting out of her sectional. Would be the only female wrestler to qualify at a class above 106. That's a very impressive accomplishment.

Rebecca Golueke · February 12, 2019, 05:01:23 PM

Another Regional Champion this year is Elizah Leonard from Wisconsin Dells(D2) at 120. Other Sectional Qualifiers that I know of are Mateah Roehl from Johnson Creek(D3) at 113, Sarah Jankowski from Cudahy(D1) at 113, Gwen Golueke (2017 Regional Champion) from Poynette(D3) at 120, and Sofia Brynman-Metcalf from Jefferson(D2) at 126. Girls qualifying for Sectionals has occurred in recent years. The growth of female wrestling has expanded in Wisconsin and the WIAA needs to really look at sanctioning female wrestling as they are falling behind other states supporting and sanctioning female wrestlers.

OddDuck · February 13, 2019, 11:13:42 AM

Quote from: Rebecca Golueke on February 12, 2019, 05:01:23 PM
Another Regional Champion this year is Elizah Leonard from Wisconsin Dells(D2) at 120. Other Sectional Qualifiers that I know of are Mateah Roehl from Johnson Creek(D3) at 113, Sarah Jankowski from Cudahy(D1) at 113, Gwen Golueke (2017 Regional Champion) from Poynette(D3) at 120, and Sofia Brynman-Metcalf from Jefferson(D2) at 126. Girls qualifying for Sectionals has occurred in recent years. The growth of female wrestling has expanded in Wisconsin and the WIAA needs to really look at sanctioning female wrestling as they are falling behind other states supporting and sanctioning female wrestlers.

Great information. Thanks for updating us

I feel great strongly about Skidmore's chances of making it to state. She's extremely tough... I hope she gets the job done.

I hope WIAA sanctions female wrestling in one of the next few years. I think it may happen.

ramjet · February 13, 2019, 01:11:10 PM

Quote from: Rebecca Golueke on February 12, 2019, 05:01:23 PM
Another Regional Champion this year is Elizah Leonard from Wisconsin Dells(D2) at 120. Other Sectional Qualifiers that I know of are Mateah Roehl from Johnson Creek(D3) at 113, Sarah Jankowski from Cudahy(D1) at 113, Gwen Golueke (2017 Regional Champion) from Poynette(D3) at 120, and Sofia Brynman-Metcalf from Jefferson(D2) at 126. Girls qualifying for Sectionals has occurred in recent years. The growth of female wrestling has expanded in Wisconsin and the WIAA needs to really look at sanctioning female wrestling as they are falling behind other states supporting and sanctioning female wrestlers.

Great info and I absolutely agree. Come on WIAA let's get with it on girls wrestling!

Steve Heinzl · February 13, 2019, 08:31:49 PM

That's good to hear Woody and long overdue. These girls deserve a chance to show what they can do in their own division. Or at least in my opinion.

Handles II · February 14, 2019, 11:56:16 AM

I'm a big fan of this idea but a couple of things...1. It should be set up from the start as 7-12th grade are combined and can wrestle either JV or Varsity at any of those grades. 2. We must acknowledge (since there is a current post about participation), that our boys teams will actually lose numbers statewide when we remove our current females. Not a huge number, but still a number. Quite a few teams have females in a varsity spot.

Quack · February 14, 2019, 01:54:10 PM

Quote from: Handles II on February 14, 2019, 11:56:16 AM
I'm a big fan of this idea but a couple of things...1. It should be set up from the start as 7-12th grade are combined and can wrestle either JV or Varsity at any of those grades. 2. We must acknowledge (since there is a current post about participation), that our boys teams will actually lose numbers statewide when we remove our current females. Not a huge number, but still a number. Quite a few teams have females in a varsity spot.

So are you kinda saying we shouldn't got this route, since the boys numbers are slipping and the girls numbers that are rising and keeping the over all numbers higher?

I for one, for my girls, would love to have a spot they can really be showcased at. Having a "State Tourney" for them that is held like JV meet or an Weekend Youth Tourney, just doesn't do them and their hard work any justice.

firemanscarry · February 14, 2019, 03:24:57 PM

Since girls are most likely going to be all in one division, I would love to see them worked into the schedule at boys' state. Wrestle Thursday morning all the way up to semifinals. Throw the semifinals in on Friday with the boys. Have the girls' final at the same time as the boys. It would be like we have four divisions instead of three.

The more we treat the girls like equals, the faster the sport will grow for them. I'm also a big believer in the notion that the bigger girls' wrestling gets in the state, the bigger the entire sport gets. Who are most of the fans at tourneys? Wrestlers and former wrestlers. They, along with parents and coaches who have developed our wrestlers, are the knowledgeable fan base that appreciates good wrestling. The more former wrestlers out there a decade from now, the bigger a deal wrestling becomes to everyone.

Wrestling is always a sport on the chopping block at some schools when budgets get tight. More former wrestlers means more outspoken advocates for the sport at those school board meetings.

I want to see more girls wrestling. I'd love to see more colleges develop women's programs, too. Yes, part of me wants it because I believe it's good for the sport as a whole, but also because I'm one of those people who really believe that the sport is good for the girls themselves.

DocWrestling · February 14, 2019, 03:29:25 PM

Quote from: Handles II on February 14, 2019, 11:56:16 AM
I'm a big fan of this idea but a couple of things...1. It should be set up from the start as 7-12th grade are combined and can wrestle either JV or Varsity at any of those grades. 2. We must acknowledge (since there is a current post about participation), that our boys teams will actually lose numbers statewide when we remove our current females. Not a huge number, but still a number. Quite a few teams have females in a varsity spot.

The WIAA does not allow any 7th or 8th grader to compete in a WIAA high school event. I would consider it an extreme long shot that they will open that box with girls wrestling so don't hold your breath.

DocWrestling · February 14, 2019, 05:47:06 PM

Are there any discussions at the national or state level to create different weight classes for the girls? It does not seem to make sense to have them use the same weight classes.

Rebecca Golueke · February 14, 2019, 11:13:34 PM

I feel qualifying for the state tournament based on the points the girls "rack up" during the four current tournaments the WIAA has offered with girls divisions would not be a fair qualifier. #1- Not all the female wrestlers in the state of Wisconsin are aware of these tournaments that are being offered. Believe it or not, coaches, and/or AD's are not passing the information to the girls and their families. #2- The schools would have to be willing to provide transportation and a high school coach would have to be willing to coach at these tournaments. Again, believe it or not, not all schools/coaches are willing to do this. As a WIAA event, it would have to be a high school coach not a parent. #3- As stated before, some of these girls fill varsity team positions. They would have to not participate in four of their team tournaments. Yes, it is an individual sport, but also is a team sport. Yes, it would have to be a choice the girls make, but they would need the support of the team, coaches, and school. I may be wrong, but aren't these tournaments listed as JV? Why would a wrestler give up a Varsity tournament to wrestle in a JV and not have it count for her record?

I like the idea of having the girls division wrestle Thursday morning at the State tournament, semi finals on Friday, and finals on Saturday the same time as the boys. That would be a wrestling showcase for all.

Handles II · February 15, 2019, 12:22:45 PM

Quote from: DocWrestling on February 14, 2019, 03:29:25 PM
Quote from: Handles II on February 14, 2019, 11:56:16 AM
I'm a big fan of this idea but a couple of things...1. It should be set up from the start as 7-12th grade are combined and can wrestle either JV or Varsity at any of those grades. 2. We must acknowledge (since there is a current post about participation), that our boys teams will actually lose numbers statewide when we remove our current females. Not a huge number, but still a number. Quite a few teams have females in a varsity spot.

The WIAA does not allow any 7th or 8th grader to compete in a WIAA high school event. I would consider it an extreme long shot that they will open that box with girls wrestling so don't hold your breath.

I realise that, but this should be a sport where it is heavily pushed. And who knows, maybe it could work and then be adopted in other sports as well. Swimming and gymnastics come to mind.

Girls At State

OddDuck