Press Release: Wisconsin Girls Wrestling Participation Soars Amid New Opportunities
BOSCOBEL, Wis. — The surge in girls wrestling participation across Wisconsin is hard to ignore. Previously, girls struggled to find their footing in a sport that required them to compete against boys, limiting participation to just a few hundred prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, when 227 girls participated during the 2017-18 season. However, with the sanctioning of girls wrestling by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) in the 2021-22 season, the landscape began to change dramatically.
In its inaugural year as a sanctioned sport, participation shot up to 452 wrestlers, marking an astounding 85% increase. This trend continued, with 749 girls participating in 2022-23 and a notable jump to 1,235 this past year. As of this wrestling season, over 1,868 girls are competing—a rise of 51% from last year and a sixfold increase since 2017.
WIAA associate director Mel Dow attributes this growth to the opportunities created by separate divisions for girls, allowing them to compete without the intimidation of mixed-gender events. Coaches like Luke Blair, who leads the Boscobel/Wauzeka-Steuben girls program, also emphasize the positive shift in the perception of the sport. “Girls feel more comfortable competing against their peers, fostering a fun environment,” he said.
The increased participation is reflected in tournament brackets, which now feature many competitors where there were once few. As interest and participation swell, the WIAA is working to crown Wisconsin’s first team state champion in girls wrestling for the 2026-27 season.
Coaches and participants alike are optimistic about the future, with many believing that these changes will continue to inspire growth in the sport for years to come. Regionals are set to kick off this Saturday at Mineral Point, showcasing the expanding talent pool in Wisconsin’s wrestling community.
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