Girls Hit the Mat as a Team for the First Time at GS
by Reese Price
This season marked a major milestone for the Girls’ Wrestling Club as they took the mat for the first time.
At the beginning of the school year, GS introduced a Girls’ Wrestling Club, creating a new athletic opportunity for female students. The club began practicing in the fall to prepare for their first season. The team is comprised of 14 student athletes who compete in high school and junior high matches.
“Teaching them something new was definitely a challenge,” wrestling coach Mr. Randy Parsley said.
The female wrestlers have been practicing alongside the boys’ team since preseason workouts started. During these shared practices, the athletes have learned new techniques and skills that have helped and impacted all of the athletes. The female wrestlers have been extremely dedicated and hardworking as they build the program and shape the future.
“It was great seeing them compete with other girls, using the moves we’ve been going over,” Mr. Parsley said. “I am very impressed with them; they are very hardworking and are anxious to learn more.”
The PIAA hosted its first season for girls wrestling in 2023-24, opening this sport up to many high school students across Pennsylvania. Girls wrestling has become one of the fastest growing girl’s sports in Pennsylvania. More than 100 girls wrestling teams have been established which was needed for the state to gain PIAA sponsorships. GS’s increase in female participation has allowed them to compete in girls’ wrestling events instead of wrestling only boys’ teams or not at all.
“Wrestling has increased my self-confidence, mental toughness, resilience and discipline,” sophomore Zoey Zeoli said. “It teaches accountability and has empowered me to get in the best shape of my life.”
GS hosted the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Wrestling Tournament, marking the school’s first year entering a girls’ team. As more local schools add programs, the participation in the sport has continued to grow.
“It’s an honor to be a part of the first ever girls’ wrestling team and to pave the way for younger athletes who want to be involved in a sport that pushes them to be their very best,” Zeoli said.
Senior wrestler Sadie Sarver has been competing since eighth grade and is a captain of the high school team. She committed to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown to continue her academic and athletic career. Sarver is ranked 16 out of 118 wrestlers in District 7 girls wrestling so far this year.
Senior Sadie Sarver looks into the crowd before a match
Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Sarver
“The hardest part of wrestling is that you need to build a whole different mindset,” she said. “It’s physically demanding and learning how to wrestle takes time, but once you get used to it, it’s all about feel and looseness.”
Learning and adapting to a new sport can be hard for any athlete, but these girls have paved the way for future athletes. Young middle school and elementary school kids have already showntheir interest in starting wrestling at a young age. The PIAA has worked very hard to grow the sport, involving 264 teams and over 100 clubs across Pennsylvania, with GS being one of them, which has contributed to the growth girls’ wrestling has seen in the past few years.
“Wrestling has helped me become more confident and disciplined to be the best I can be, showing me a true supportive environment,” Sarver said
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