Times have changed for female wrestlers

Our stories this week about girls in high school wrestling reminded me that times have changed, even in the past 10 or 15 years.

I’m from Valley Center, and I remember when a female wrestler named Tiffany Adams wanted to join the Hornet team in the 1990s – before coach Brian Shelton had taken the helm. Some parents of male wrestlers didn’t like the idea, and when the school district resisted, Tiffany and her mother hired an attorney. The situation resulted in some tense school board meetings and, ultimately, a court case. In the end, Tiffany was allowed to wrestle.

Now, female wrestlers are still uncommon in high schools, but they aren’t unheard of. This year, several area schools include female wrestlers, such as Wichita South, Wichita Heights, Wichita Southeast, Wichita West, Wichita North and Goddard.

Mike Church, who coaches the No. 7-ranked Heights squad, welcomes girls’ involvement in wrestling. Although some girls express an interest in the sport and then don’t take it seriously, he said, Falcon JV wrestler Lily Trinh has shown dedication in her first season, just like the boys.

“She’s showed up to all the practices and made the sacrifices like they have,” Mike said. “She seems to be doing what it takes to be a wrestler.”

Lily is in good company. Heights features many talented wrestlers; the varsity athletes are contenders for a league title and a top-three finish at state.

Incidentally, Falcon graduate Chase Nelson, who won Class 6A state titles in 2007 and 2008 before placing second in 2009, has joined the team at Labette Community College. Labette is listed No. 4 in NJCAA rankings, and Nelson is the No. 2-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds.