ST AMANT, La. — Girls in Louisiana high schools will have their own wrestling teams, starting this fall, after a vote by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
A vote of 98-1 by LHSAA approved girls wrestling, according to our partners at WBRZ. Officials said the item was postponed in previous years "due to concerns about funding and other potential issues."
Before the vote, girls competed on the boys wrestling team, going against boys in their weight class. Now, they will have their own division and the ability to earn state and national varsity titles.
Our partners at WBRZ spoke to a coach at St. Amant High School who said the girls on his team work hard just like the boys and deserve to be recognized.
"The only way they can wrestle other girls is in JV level competition and they aren't getting the proper treatment that they deserve, as in getting in all the record books for their accomplishments," Clint Brownell said days before the vote took place.
They also spoke to a high school senior who is one of three girls on the Gators wrestling team, "wrestling helped me overcome bullying," Kyleigh Pearson said.
The sanction will become effective during the 2024-25 school year, WBRZ reported.
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