The future is female—no further evidence is needed than what’s happening inside the wrestling room at Springfield High School.
This winter marked a historic milestone for the Wildcats when the school fielded its first official girls wrestling team. In a sport long dominated by men, eight female athletes stepped onto the mat ready to compete, prove themselves and build something entirely their own.
“This sport isn’t just for men anymore,” said sophomore Bella Gutierrez, who has been on a wrestling mat since she could barely walk.
A seasoned athlete, Bella has quickly emerged as a leader for the new program, offering guidance and encouragement to her teammates, including sophomore AaRenee Belle, who is new to the sport.
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“Growing up as a girl, we’re told we’re not as strong as men,” AaRenee said. “But this has proven that we can be just as strong—if not stronger.”
And they’re not just competing. They’re winning.
At a recent tournament, Bella and AaRenee placed third and second in their respective weight classes, becoming the first Springfield female wrestlers to place at a tournament since the Ohio High School Athletic Association officially sanctioned girls wrestling in 2022.
Their success has injected a new, electric energy into the Wildcat wrestling program. Varsity Head Coach Matthew Weaver describes the girls as ‘sponges,’ athletes eager to learn and improve every day.
“Girls wrestling is the fastest-growing sport in the United States,” Coach Weaver said. “I truly believe that in the next few years, our numbers here will explode.”
But this growth didn’t happen by accident.
Coach Weaver, alongside Springfield Middle School Wrestling Coach Matt Moore, has been intentional about building interest at an early age. The two helped to facilitate a wrestling workshop during Wittenberg University’s annual Women & Girls in Sports Day, giving fifth- and sixth-grade girls the opportunity to try different sports in a guided, low-pressure environment.
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Additional ‘open mat’ sessions held over the summer allowed high school girls to explore the sport with no prior experience necessary. Support from staff also played a role, including Springfield Athletic Trainer Shawn Russell, whose daughter Paige wrestled in high school, placed fifth at the state level, and now competes collegiately.
For Ary Young, a SHS sophomore who is wrestling for the first time, the decision was simple.
“I heard about girls getting into wrestling more, so I decided to try it,” Ary said. “It’s definitely challenging, but seeing the results makes it worth it.”
Any wrestler will tell you the sport demands both physical and mental toughness—from weight management and conditioning to the pressure of competing alone on the mat.
“Wrestling teaches you so much about yourself,” Coach Weaver said. “Every wrestler faces adversity, and that carries over into how you handle challenges in life.”
While skill levels may vary, one thing remains constant: the support these girls show for one another. Even during the interviews for this article, the teammates could be heard hyping each other up between answers—an energy that’s become a defining feature of the new program.
“I’m proud of all of these girls. It shows how much work we put in together," Bella said. "They’re family to me.”
Whether their goals are mastering new techniques or advancing in postseason competition, the Springfield High School girls wrestling team is already accomplishing something bigger: ‘taking down’ the outdated notion that girls don’t belong on the mat.