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Girls wrestling expects growth
By Ward Gossett 2/18/02
Assistant Sports Editor
Tennessee has two nationally-ranked wrestlers who aren't competing this
week in the state high school tournament.
Jessica Taylor, ranked eighth at 110 pounds, didn't make the postseason
varsity at Cumberland County, and Cookeville's Kristi Sweat, listed as
the fourth-best 130-pounder, lost in the Region 3 tournament.
They are ranked by the United States Girls' Wrestling Association, and
both are likely competitors in the USGWA Tennessee state championships
scheduled for Feb. 24 in Crossville.
"I am just like any other teen-age girl, except that I love to
wrestle," Taylor said at last year's TSSAA state tournament.
There are girls wrestling across southeast Tennessee -- from Howard and
Lookout Valley to McMinn County, McMinn Central, Cookeville and
Cumberland County.
McMinn County coach Dave Stoika had six girls in his wrestling room,
including 119-pound Jennifer Layman, whose first region match was
against Bradley Central's Adam Rains. She lost. Rains, after all, entered the
tournament 32-0, then lost in the consolations.
The question in the wrestling community is whether Layman should have
been wrestling Rains, or any other boy, and it has sparked interest in
developing girls-only wrestling teams.
"If the guy wins, he's a bully. If he loses, he's shamed," said Bradley
Central coach Steve Logsdon, who has one of the state's best teams and
no girls in his program. "It's a no-win situation for boys."
Central's John Crawford agreed.
"The female body is intimidating. Some boys are hesitant with some
moves," e said. "Strenth is a factor that should be considered. Girls should
be encouraged to wrestle, but only on all-girls teams."
The time for girls' wrestling has come, said Soddy-Daisy coach Steve
Henry.
"A lot of parents wouldn't want their girls wrestling because it's
against guys, and I'm one of them," he said. "Girls are brought up and taught
that they don't let guys touch them here or there. But girls can wrestle and
still be ladies."
Henry says he's likely to broach the subject at the Tennessee Wrestling
Coaches Association meeting Saturday morning. "We need to address the
issue. Women's wrestling will be an Olympic sport next year," he said.
"The interest is there," he said. "It's taking place in other parts of
the country. It's another choice for girls in the winter. This seems like
the ideal time."
Texas and Hawaii have certified girls' wrestling and have state
tournaments.
"Girls' wrestling started more than 10 years ago here in Hawaii," said
Keith Matsumoto of the Hawaii High School Atheltic Association. "The state
tournament for girls was initiated four years ago as a trial and was
incorporated as a permanent state tournament the next year. Girls'
wrestling is very strong, and we have competed well at the USGWA events the past
four years. Hawaii placed second in 1999 and third last year."
TSSAA Executive Director Ronnie Carter acknowledged that Tennessee
would not be blazing a new trail.
"Texas has done that," he said. "Texas is not a hotbed of wrestling,
but when the sport was added, they decided to have programs for boys and
girls. The participation numbers have boomed."
Carter is interested to see more reaction from Tennessee wrestling
coaches.
"The bottom line is whether the interest is there," he said. "It may be
the same as hockey in Minnesota 10-15 years ago when girls began going out
for hockey teams. There are now hockey championships for boys and girls."
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