KHSAA took a big step in growing girls’ wrestling as they held their first ever state-sanctioned Girls’ State Wrestling Tournament on Feb. 17. Multiple female wrestlers from Apollo, Owensboro and Daviess County qualified and made history representing their schools and the Owensboro area in KHSAA’s first girls’ state wrestling tournament.
Before this year, girls’ wrestling in Kentucky did not have a state-sanctioned tournament. The Coaches Association put together their own statewide tournament for girls’ wrestling so that there was still a major competition the wrestlers could compete in. This helped steadily grow the sport throughout the years, but Daviess County head wrestling coach Curtis Martinson said with the more they ran into issues due to the sheer size of the tournament.
“Well first off the Coaches Association did a great job putting on the tournament over the last few years to build the numbers,” he said. “In saying that, there was just no good way to do it with 200-300 girls entered. Every girl in the state made the tournament and it was really hard for the girls that weren’t well known to stand a chance. Some teams had 4 or even 7 girls in the same weight class. There was no qualifying. The top girls or what they seeded got an easier route to titles or medals. Unless a no-name got an upset victory in her first match, she was basically out of the medal. Our girl did that last year, but it’s difficult.”
KHSAA’s state tournament not only gives girls’ wrestling a definitive “big stage”, but it also brings the same level of organization and structure that the boys’ state tournament has, Martinson said.
“With the new way, every team is only allowed one girl in every weight class like the boys. Then they have to wrestle regionals to qualify,” he said. “Only the top 4 make it. Then, the random draw match ups with 4 vs. 1 and 2 vs. 3 from each of the 4 regions. It makes it harder to make it, but more even if you do. I think the tournament will only get better from here as young ladies see they now get to wrestle on the big stage with the boys. It’s more glamour and lights.”
Apollo’s head wrestling coach Courtney Johns is hopeful that the addition of KHSAA’s State Tournament will bring more exposure in the region. He said that a state-sanctioned tournament will also help recruit new girl wrestlers now that they will compete against other girls as opposed to boys.
“I’m hoping it will bring more exposure to the sport especially in this area for females,” he said. “Ohio County, Henderson, DC, Owensboro, and Apollo all had females competing in this year’s tournament. A lot of people in this area have no clue about girls wrestling. I feel that KHSAA made the right decision to sanction it which allowed girls to showcase themselves.”
In the greater aspect of the sport, Johns said the exposure of wrestling also brings the exposure of the benefits wrestling provides.
“I don’t think people understand how wrestling benefits them not only physically, but mentally and how it can also improve athletic performance in other sports,” he said. “A lot of girls are joining to learn self defense, so I hope having an all-girls state tournament will bring more awareness to not only the sport, but the benefits of it.”
Owensboro High School’s Maya Montalvo is one such wrestler who is reaping the benefits of wrestling. She jumped at the chance to wrestle when she learned the school was making a girls’ team, and now she has been a part of the historic tournament as she was Owensboro’s lone female wrestler. Montalvo felt pride in knowing that she not only qualified for the state tournament, but that opportunities for young women in the sport are becoming more available.
“It was a proud moment not just for us but knowing that this opportunity for girls is expanding,” she said. “Creating more opportunities for us young women in the sport. For me, it makes me really proud of myself, knowing that I worked hard to be part of the state championship. It gives me the honor to be able to end this wrestling season with my girl wrestlers and the rest of the wrestling community. But yet this wouldn’t have happened without my amazing coaches, family, and my fellow teammates.”
