Florida moves a step closer to sanctioning girls’ high wrestling
The notion that wrestling would take root as a popular sport for young women was a pipe dream just a few years ago. But Wednesday, the Florida High School Athletic Association took a historic step and voted unanimously to endorse the sanctioning of the sport for girls.
If approved by the FHSAA Board of Directors in June, Florida will join 23 other states in sanctioning girls’ wrestling — one of the fastest growing sports in the country.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the public meeting took place over a Zoom call on Wednesday. Orlando Freedom High School girls’ wrestling coach Lynzie Doll was among the presenters who made their case to the Athletic Directors Advisory Committee.
“As soon as a state association legitimizes a sport, more girls flock to the sport,” Doll said, citing states that recently sanctioned the sport, which saw participation grow the following year between 26 and 438 percent.
There were 708 girls on Florida high school wrestling rosters during the 2019-2020 season. “That’s 708 girls that are brave enough to wrestle on a boys wrestling team,” said Mike Crowder, Tallahassee Lincoln coach. “When you change this to an all-girls sport, the numbers are gonna be outrageous.”
Sanctioning also means girls can compete in an official state championship tournament. It means money for equipment, coaches and transportation. It means South Dade assistant wrestling coach Chino Duran wouldn’t spend as much of his own money on the team next season. For the South Dade girls’ inaugural 2019-2020 season, which former MMA fighter Duran oversaw, he estimated he spent around $3000 on tournament fees, gas and snacks for the girls. They started the season wearing men’s singlets, and ended the season in ones designed for women that Duran paid for with money he made giving private lessons as a personal trainer. “It got expensive for me,” Duran said.
Is coronavirus slowing momentum for the sport?
Although high school wrestling teams across the country were largely able to wrap their 2019-2020 season before the coronavirus pandemic upended lives, national championship tournaments and offseason training programs grinded to a halt.
“It has been really stressful because typically for our guys and girls program, the summertime is when we make the biggest improvements,” said Doll.
In St. Petersburg, wrestling academy Beebe Trained was ready to launch its first practice for girls only. Those plans have been shelved.
“I don’t think it’s gonna have a huge implication just because there’s so many girls out there that have been looking for a place to train for the longest time,” said Conor Beebe, founder and coach at the academy. “Knowing the passion that a lot of girls in our program have, I think we’re gonna get right back into it as soon as soon as this is over.”
Duran fears the effects of the pandemic on his team could be longer lasting. “They won’t make the progress they were making before,” he said. Many of his athletes lack space to workout, or safe communities where they can exercise outside. One girl was on a jog that ended in a sprint as she escaped a car that appeared to be following her. “Whoever has more resources are going to be at the advantage here because they can still get their practice in and can still be working out,” Duran said.
Beebe is trying to solve for that on a small scale. He created #MatsForKids, where he and his brother Carson are live streaming free workout classes targeted for wrestlers, and asking for donations in exchange. At first, the goal was to get mats for three of his athletes who needed them. Word spread, and now requests are coming in from across Florida, and beyond.
“I’ve gotten 34 mats out to athletes,” Beebe said. “I have six families right now that I need to give mats to.”
About one third of those mats have gone to girls. One of them is a junior on Lynzie Doll’s team who will be back next season. And if the FHSAA Board of Directors moves quickly, that’s a girl who could compete at Florida’s first sanctioned state championship tournament in 2021.
To request a mat, reach out to Conor on Facebook. Donations can be made over Venmo to @Conor-Beebe with the hashtag #matsforkids.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 12:33 PM.