The Rapid Growth of Girls Wrestling

Leilani Celio, Staff Reporter ♦ February 26, 2026

Sophomore Lexi Scott attempts to pin Lowell opponent during a match at Lowell High School. Scott, however, did not win this match.

GRIFFITH, IN—For decades, high school wrestling teams were largely limited to boys. While wrestling dates back thousands of years, female athletes were often excluded from having teams of their own. In recent years, however, the sport has expanded to include more opportunities for girls at the high school level.

Wrestling remains one of the most popular high school sports in the country. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, wrestling ranks sixth nationwide in participation. As interest has grown, more schools have begun offering opportunities for female athletes to compete.

Girls first began joining high school wrestling teams in the early 1980s, when some coaches allowed them to practice and compete alongside boys. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, schools across the country started forming girls wrestling teams. Since then, participation has continued to increase.

Griffith Jr./Sr. High School offers a wide range of athletic programs, including wrestling. While the school has long had a wrestling team, a major milestone came on Nov. 11, 2023, when head coach Christopher Sojka announced that girls would officially be able to compete in an all-girls tournament.

Junior Alyssa Varichak and girls coach Christopher Padjec have both played key roles in the growth of the girls wrestling program. Varichak is a team captain and has wrestled for two years. Padjec said the increase in participation has been noticeable.

“There have been a lot of girls joining, and it’s great to have them on the team,” Padjec said.

Varichak said she has seen growth within the team since she joined. “I have definitely noticed an exceptional amount of physical and mental growth of my team throughout my two years of wrestling,” she said.

She also said wrestling provides benefits beyond competition. “Being a part of the wrestling team comes with many benefits on and off the mat, including responsibility, team bonds, discipline and mental toughness,” Varichak said.

As girls wrestling continues to grow at Griffith, student-athletes like Varichak hope the program will keep expanding. “Wrestling isn’t just a sport — it’s a way of life,” she said.

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About the Contributor

Leilani Celio, Staff Reporter

Leilani Celio is a freshman here at Griffith Jr./Sr. High School, and it is her first year in Panther Press. Leilani joined Panther Press mostly because she enjoys writing, but over the past few months, she has grown to like it more than she thought she would. In Leilani’s free time, she enjoys having Bible studies, going on walks, going to the gym, thrifting, journaling, and spending time with the people she loves. She loves communicating with others and sharing her insights and opinions on things. In school, she tries to get her work done on time but sometimes her procrastination holds her back. Leilani would like to be a criminal psychologist one day because she has a fascination with the human mind. In the future, Leilani hopes to get into a good college, become a criminal psychologist, and take care of her family with whatever they need.