Mifflinburg Area creates girls' wrestling team

Feb. 29—MIFFLINBURG — Female athletes in Mifflinburg Area School District have an opportunity to compete on a newly-created wrestling team.

The school board on Feb. 22 unanimously approved the creation of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association girls' wrestling program. With the approval, the district will begin advertising for a coach to oversee the first season, which begins in late fall.

"As the world of girls wrestling has taken off at the national level, it has also reached our area as many of our local schools have added girls programs," said Danielle Dressler, the district's director of student services/athletic director. "It just seemed inevitable that most or all schools will have a program and Mifflinburg wanted to make sure that our girls jump on board to stay competitive as the sport grows. I am a huge wrestling fan and have three nephews who have all competed at states in Hershey and one who was a state champion. It is a sport that I know and understand well and feel that I can help promote to the females in our district. I am super excited that our school board was completely on board with starting the program."

Since 1994, the number of women who wrestle in high school has grown from 804 to more than 50,000, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

In a previous meeting with the school board, the information about girls' wrestling was presented last year and then was brought up again in January. The board wanted to move forward for a vote in February and was extremely supportive of starting the program, said Dressler.

"We had a female student, Laural Ramsey, who was the first to want to pursue the idea of girls wrestling," said Dressler. "She sent out information to girls in high school and had over a dozen who have expressed interest."

Dressler said the Mifflinburg Wrestling Club has been "very supportive" and had representation at the school board work session to promote a favorable vote.

"The Mifflinburg wrestling community is deeply rooted in supporting and promoting the sport from grades K-12, so I am hopeful that they will do the same with girls wrestling," said Dressler. "Girls wrestling is the fastest growing sport in the country and is providing girls with many opportunities, including at the college level. I am excited for the girls in our community to have this opportunity to grapple and experience the toughness and grit needed to compete in the world of wrestling."

Now that the PIAA has sanctioned girls wrestling, it follows the same format as boys, including post-season competition concluding with the state championships at Hershey.

Other local school districts with girls' wrestling programs are Selinsgrove Area, Mlton Area, Danville Area, Shikellamy, Midd-West, Central Mountain, Hughesville, Central Columbia, Williamsport and Jersey Shore.

"I am really excited to see that we will have a female wrestling program," said High School Principal Jeremiah Allen. "It is a very popular sport across the country and is only gaining more traction. In an area where wrestling has always been big, it is really great to see us, and other schools, taking this step. It gives female athletes another opportunity for athletics during the winter months. It is great to see students involved so I am looking forward to our first season."