This One’s For The Girls
By Dan Ward

“I strongly believe all girls should wrestle, or at the very least give wrestling a try. I know what the sport did for me mentally, physically, and emotionally and I believe every girl can benefit from such experiences the sport gives you.” — Helen Maroulis (Olympic Champion)

Girls’ high school wrestling isn’t just about spandex, sweaty mats, and the occasional face full of someone else’s elbow—it’s about proving people wrong with style. While some people still act surprised that girls wrestle, these athletes are out here flipping opponents, collecting medals, and doing it all before homework is due. It’s loud, it’s intense, and yes, it’s sometimes a little awkward, but that’s part of the fun. Welcome to the sport where strength meets sass, and where “You wrestle?” is usually followed by “Yeah… and I win.”

According to Sports Illustrated, the three fastest-growing sports in the U.S. are Girls’ Wrestling, Girls’ Flag Football, and Boys’ Wrestling. Girls’ Wrestling is ranked as the fastest-growing sport, with participation surpassing 74,000 for the first time and adding nearly 1,000 new programs.
Girls’ Flag football saw a 60% growth to about 69,000, and Boys’ Wrestling, which had dropped off during Covid, is steadily growing with over 300,000 participants.

Girls’ Wrestling is growing fast because once girls see it, they get it. The sport offers something many others don’t: a clear, level playing field where strength, skill, and effort matter more than size or stereotypes. Schools are adding teams, states are sanctioning championships, and suddenly girls don’t have to “wrestle up” against boys to prove they belong—they already do. Add in supportive teammates, visible role models on social media, and the pure confidence that comes from learning how to throw someone onto a mat, and it’s no surprise the sport is exploding. Turns out, when you give girls space to compete and be tough, they show up—and they don’t plan on leaving.

“I love this sport. It’s so much fun. I’m going to smile as much as I can.” — Sarah Hildebrandt (Olympic Gold Medalist) after winning Olympic gold in Paris

The MHSAA officially sanctioned girls’ wrestling in 2021, creating a separate girls’ division for individual championships alongside the boys. Since then, the sport has exploded in growth, with more than 1,500 girls competing during the 2024–25 season—more than double the number from just a few years earlier. Beginning in the 2025–26 season, new team district and regional titles will also be introduced, and current rules allow girls to compete in either boys’ or girls’ tournaments (but not both), all with the goal of expanding opportunities and building a stronger future for female wrestlers.

St. Johns has ten girls wrestling this year, doubling the team size from last year. Newcomers Alexa Benner, Annabelle Gothberg, Annabelle Longoria, Mia May, Ella Prohaska, and Peyson Sova join returning wrestlers Addyson Nye, Lori Morris, Haley Prohaska, and Olivia Pettigrew.

(Back Row L to R Annabelle Longoria, Addyson Nye, Olivia Pettigrew Alexa Benner, Ella Prohaska
Front Row L to R Peyson Sova, Lori Morris, Mia May, Haley Prohaska, Annabelle Gothburg
– Photo By Coach Pettigrew)

“I started in eighth grade because I was ready for something that would challenge me. Wrestling scared me that first day — and that’s why I knew it was something that would take everything I had to get good at.”— Patricia Miranda (Olympic Competitor)

I was fortunate enough to sit down with four of the amazing girls after practice this week. Addyson, Peyson, Annabelle Longoria, and Oliva all have had a dad, an uncle, or a brother who wrestled, and they wanted to join that family.

Oliva said, “My Dad and Uncle both coach, and both of my brothers wrestled. My brother Sean really helped me want to do it and encouraged me to do it. Then, my 8th grade year, when Shelby (Krumb) was in her first year, she really loved it and encouraged me to do it.”

(Olivia celebrates 1st place with Coach/Dad Kevin Pettigrew- Photo By Glenn Armstrong)

Addyson also had family members that wrestled, “I think the reason I wanted to join wrestling is that my Dad and Uncle both wrestled in high school, and my brother wrestled when he was younger. I just wanted to prove that I can do a hard sport. Wrestling is a really challenging and really mental sport. I show that I could get past the mental barriers and do my best.”

(Addyson Nye in action at Fowlerville- Photo By Glenn Armstrong)

Peyson has been involved in wrestling her whole life, “I started in 4th grade, and that was because my mom was pushing me to do it. I wanted to wrestle because my brother wrestled, and I’ve been going to his meets since I was born. I always wanted to be like my brother, and I’ve had the closest bond with him for a really long time, and that’s what made me want to do it.”

(Peyson Sova in action at Fowlerville- Photo By Glenn Armstrong)

Annabelle “My brother and Dad used to do it, and when I could go to practice with my brother, it helped me get out all my feelings, and it’s just fun to hang out with everyone.”

(Annabelle Longoria wrestles teammate Haley Prohaska at Fowlerville- Photo By Glenn Armstrong)

“I had some friends on the team in high school and… I totally could [handle wrestling]. So I went out for the team.” — Kelsey Campbell (Olympian) on how she started wrestling.

When asked what they like best, besides hanging out with me, Oliva said, “For me it’s really just, it helps me forget, like if I’m angry or sad, it calms my mind. It’s just really aggressive, and I like to be aggressive.”

For Addyson, it’s friendships. “Wrestling is getting to be a part of this community and has so many friends that I can also call family because of wrestling. I like that I’ve built so many long-lasting friendships through the sport, and I’m just happy that we are all friends.“

“I wrestle for a lot of separate teams other than just high school.. I like being able to travel a lot, meet a lot of new people, and make a lot of friends in-state and out of state,” added Peyson.
Annabelle reinforced the idea of a wrestling family, saying, “I like the part where it’s like a big family, and we get to hang out. But also, I like that it’s just calming.”

The girls have goals too. Olivia wants to make it to States like her brother and to wrestle in college. Addyson’s goal is to also make it to States and place in the top 8. Peyson’s goal is to get 100 wins by her senior year, go to states every year, and wrestle in college. Annabelle’s goal is to progress in the sport.

The girls are also showing success this year. They placed 4th at East Jackson, 3rd at Fowlerville, and, this past Monday, 2nd at Mt. Morris, losing to 8th-ranked Yale. Placing for the Redwings were Olivia Pettigrew 1st, Annabelle Longoria 3rd, and Lori Morris 3rd. They have also had strong showings against Eaton Rapids, DeWitt, Mason, and Ionia in Wednesday match-ups.

“These girls are putting in the work. They have not backed down from day one. They are battling through soreness and injuries to keep improving every day. This group is tough, and the results of their success are a testament to the effort that they are putting into it.” Coach Pettigrew.

(Yah 2lb weight allowance!- Photo By Kevin Pettigrew)

“When I first started wrestling, I wanted to be an emblem, a light to younger women … You can be silly, you can have fun and you can be strong.” — Tamyra Mensah-Stock (Olympic Gold Medalist)

When asked what advice they would give to girls considering joining the sport, the wrestlers all shared the same message: it’s fun once you get the hang of it. They emphasized that wrestling offers the chance to make new friends and become part of a close-knit wrestling family. I see it every day, the girls team is supportive of each other. While it may seem intimidating at first, the girls agreed that it quickly becomes an enjoyable and “fun” experience..

The girls primarily wrestle one another, and for those who are considering the sport—or parents with daughters interested in trying it—it’s important to know that no girl is ever forced to wrestle a boy if she is uncomfortable. The coaching staff, teammates, and the entire program make a concerted effort to ensure that every athlete feels supported and comfortable in the wrestling room.

It has been inspiring to watch the week-to-week improvement of this talented group of girls throughout the season, and the hope is that the program will continue to grow. “Iron Sharpens Iron,” a phrase displayed on the wall of the wrestling room, captures the team’s philosophy. As the program continues to expand—for both boys and girls—the shared commitment to growth and development will only lead to greater success and opportunity for everyone involved.

If you are interested in seeing what all the excitement is about, the girls are back in action on the 2nd of January at 4 PM in DeWitt. Come over and support these incredible young women.

That’s it for this week’s recap. I hope everybody is having a wonderful Holiday Season.

As I said, the Girls are wrestling on the 2nd of January. The entire team is back in action on the 7th with Varsity Boys and Girls traveling to Lansing Eastern and the Varsity B team traveling to Charlotte.

Haley Prohaska

Alexa Benner

Mia May

Lori Morris

Annabelle Gothburg