The girls wrestling team began lifting and conditioning practices during the first week of November. With only eight members, the team is small but looks forward to a season full of hard work and improvement. Girls Head Coach Troy Swendal said the team will participate in five meets this year, starting Dec. 28. The team also hopes to qualify for the first ever CBL Girls League Tournament, he added, which will take place in February. Swendal explained wrestling was first offered to girls in 2021, with only one member joining. The girls wrestling team was officially started in 2024 with six wrestlers, he said. Junior captain Kandace Coleman said she was inspired by her older siblings to begin wrestling her freshman year. “I decided to give it a try, which was probably the best decision I ever made,” she said. Coleman added she was the only girl on the team during her freshman year, so she didn’t get many opportunities. “I wasn’t really able to wrestle that much,” she said. “I wrestled with the middle schoolers.” Despite wrestling being a physically demanding sport, Coleman said everyone on the team offers help and is excited to cheer on their fellow teammates. Swendal said the team is incredibly supportive of each other and stuck together through every match last season. “They are always there to support each other after a tough loss and quick to celebrate after a great win,” he said. Freshman Mikaila Blanski said her teammates are great motivators, and they are extremely close. “We’re just like one big family,” Blanski said. “Everyone is always working together.” Swendal said he urges his athletes to give their full effort each day. He also has big expectations for the upcoming season, he added. “This is a sport that truly tests an athlete,” he said. “You want your wrestler to win, but seeing them become the best versions of themselves on and off the mat is a reward in and of itself.” Coleman said the movements can be difficult, but she thinks these challenges are vital for improvement. “The only way to learn is by losing,” she explained. Swendal explained girls wrestling has grown tremendously over the past few years. Coleman said she is excited that the sport is gaining popularity. “My favorite part is seeing the growth of women’s wrestling,” she said. “It brings me happiness that I’m part of that growth.”