FRANKLIN — Hundreds of girls will be seen as trailblazers when history tells their story of how they changed the face of high school sports in Indiana.
The interest in creating girl wrestling is so intense that the Indiana High School Athletic Association has deemed it an "emerging sport" with the possibility of becoming an official sport within the next two years.
Boys volleyball is also on a similar track consider an "emerging sport."
Lily Bridges and Ayla Stevenson are sophomores at Franklin Community High School. Both are inaugural members of their school's wrestling team this fall 2022. Stevenson in previous years competed against boys and is now on the girls team.
Bridges is also on the team after helping as the manager of the boys team.
Bridges and Stevenson are focused on their training and the significance of this moment for girls in elementary and middle schools.
"Yes, it matters because we are sending a message that girls can do this too -- it doesn't have to be just a guy sport," Stevenson said.
"To be one of the first is a big thing for us and me," Bridges said.
The girls make up a roster of more than 10 players on the Grizzly Cub roster. Currently, 177 schools in Indiana have at least one female wrestler.
The Franklin girls wrestling coach is Tina Tonte. She's also in her first year.
Her biggest challenge initially was getting girls to see that wrestling is an option with the benefits of good health and learning life skills.
"You know it takes a lot of courage to step out of your comfort zone and not look at what other people are doing and do something different," Tina Tonte said. "You learn how to endure through stress, how to deal with losses, I think the sport has a lot to offer."
Since the beginning of fall 2022, the girls have competed in dozens of matches including well attended tournaments.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association says more than 800 girls are participating in the emerging sport.
Jim Tonte is the head wrestling coach at Franklin with 36 boys and about 14 girls on the teams.
"It's a good thing because it gives an opportunity just like men of girls of different sizes to be successful," Jim Tonte said. "I believe this sport has something for everybody. "
-
Lt. Gov. Beckwith defends remarks on Islam as 'demonic death cult'
Lt. Gov. Beckwith defends remarks on Islam as 'demonic death cult'
Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith is facing criticism from faith leaders, elected officials, and members of the Muslim community for his comments on Islam in a recent online interview and on social media.
Bayh, Potter to face off at Indiana Democratic Party convention
Both Democratic candidates for Indiana secretary of state said they would work to restore trust in the office and improve customer service.
City-County Council proposes funding road repairs with vehicle tax increases
City leaders are floating a measure they say will fix the city's roads, but it will cost drivers more by increasing their annual vehicle registration fees.
