Despite limited resources, unequal attention and the ongoing fight for representation, female student-athletes continue to thrive and counteract the setbacks of being on a female team.
Up until this year, the girls’ wrestling team has had issues finding a place to practice due to the boys’ wrestling team already occupying the wrestling room. This year, however, the wrestling teams were able to practice at the same time by splitting the room in half with the girls’ and boys’ teams.
Senior Delaney Earl said that being a member of the girls’ wrestling team has deepened her appreciation for the program and its growth.
“Most schools just [have] separate girls teams in the past couple years,” Earl said. “I think it’s definitely made me appreciate [having a girls wrestling team] more, just because of having to pioneer the sport more than other sports, like basketball and softball, where they had girls teams for a while. It’s definitely just given me more appreciation for the sport.”
Earl said that participating on a girls’ team has elevated her confidence level on the wrestling mat. Additionally, Earl said that it is essential to have girls’ sports since she finds herself being on the defensive side while wrestling a boy.
Senior Taylor Andrews is a member of the Spirit Squad as well as the girls’ swim & dive teams and said she noticed the disparities in male and female sports since she began competing. Andrews said she and her teammates retaliate against the difficulties of being female athletes by supporting each other.
“We push each other to be the best, almost proving that what we do is just as important as any male sport,” Andrews said. “We work together and strive for success, and in the end, I am always so proud of all the accomplishments that these women teams have achieved.”
Following accomplishments, freshman Leah Wilson successfully made her way to state after winning the Sunflower League as well as being co-bowler of the year. Wilson said making state was a major goal of hers; however, she felt a little dejected knowing her team did not make state with her.
“Walking into regionals, I had bowled with some of these talented girls throughout tournaments so I knew the number they were capable of putting up,” Wilson said. “I trusted my training and was able to use the nerves to my advantage.”
Furthermore, senior Addie Fulscher, who participates in multiple sports such as girls’ basketball and girls’ flag football, said that working on a female team should be highlighted as it creates a space for female athletes to gain confidence and resilience while also making room to have fun.
“In sports, you face adversity and learn how to bounce back, which is a crucial skill to have and will always be valuable in life,” Fulscher said.
