Over the last few years, women's wrestling has surged into the spotlight. The sport isn’t just growing for female athletes—it’s exploding. It’s the fastest-growing high school sport for girls, and now, for the first time ever, the NCAA has officially added a women’s tournament to its championships. The message is clear: women belong on the mat.
This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the pioneers who fought for these moments, the athletes shattering records today, and the next generation ready to take the sport even further.
Breaking Barriers
Not long ago, young female wrestlers were outliers, often standing alone as the only girl in the room. "Being a woman wrestler hasn’t always been easy. Especially growing up with only about four girls in my entire state that wrestled. But that struggle shaped who I am today. As I got older, I saw the sport grow. It’s inspiring to see how many girls are stepping onto the mat." — Kennedy Blades
Wrestling rooms that were once filled only with boys are now packed with female athletes. Their presence is undeniable. Kayla Miracle has witnessed it firsthand. "I remember starting out and being one of the only girls in the room. Now, 24 years after I started, I see college programs popping up everywhere, girls earning scholarships, and the sport finally getting the respect it deserves."
Sarah Hildebrandt reflects on her journey and the challenges she faced.
"Being a woman in wrestling, of course, has its obstacles. There has not been a point in my career, from wrestling on the middle school boys’ team to winning the Olympics, where I have not experienced discrimination for quite simply just wrestling. But this fact pales in comparison to the fact that being a woman wrestler has been the greatest privilege and experience of my life. Being a woman in wrestling is empowerment. It is self-actualization. It is expression."
NCAA Recognition
A defining moment for women’s wrestling came in January 2024, when the NCAA officially recognized women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport. This wasn’t just an administrative decision—it was validation. It was proof that women’s wrestling is here to stay.
Amit Elor described what this milestone means. "Seeing entire girls' teams and packed arenas—it’s surreal. It fills my heart with joy."
But beyond the NCAA milestone, representation has been just as powerful. Miracle remembers a pivotal moment in her own journey, "One of the biggest impacts for me was meeting Sarah Hildebrandt on the Fargo bus. She was a few years older, but she made me believe my dreams weren’t crazy. Representation matters."
A Source of Strength
Wrestling isn’t just about competition. It shapes character. It forges resilience.
Blades credits wrestling for making her who she is. "Wrestling empowers me by giving me confidence. When I was younger, I had to fake confidence to wrestle against boys. But over time, that confidence became real—and it carried over into my entire life."
For Miracle, wrestling is about power—both physical and mental. "Wrestling is hard. But that’s what makes it empowering. How could I not feel strong when I step onto the mat? Wrestling lets me be both powerful and beautiful, doing what I love."
Hildebrandt adds another dimension to the empowerment wrestling provides:
"I’m empowered by being a woman wrestler because the lessons and processes wrestling demands create a spectrum of experience. It is assertiveness, ambition, strength—as well as intuition, sensitivity, and openness. Learning, feeling, and experiencing that spectrum is empowering and allows me to discover a very authentic version of myself, as well as giving me space to express that. Unlike anything else in my life, wrestling has given me a canvas to find, create, grow, and be myself unapologetically."
That power isn’t just personal—it’s generational.
Inspiring the Next Wave of Warriors
Today’s wrestlers aren’t just competing for themselves—they’re clearing a path for the next generation.
Blades remembers her history-making moment in 2016, "I was the first girl to win IKWF state. It had never been done before. At the time, it was my biggest dream."
Now, young girls are stepping onto the mat because they saw someone like Blades, Elor, Miracle, and Hildebrandt—showing them what’s possible.
"I had a little girl tell me, 'I started wrestling because of you,'" Elor said. "That’s why we keep pushing forward."
Women’s wrestling in the U.S. isn’t just fighting for recognition anymore—it’s thriving. From high school tournaments to NCAA podiums to the Olympics, these athletes are proving that the future of wrestling isn’t just male or female. It’s anyone willing to step on the mat and fight.
This Women’s History Month, we don’t just celebrate the rise of women’s wrestling—we honor the warriors who made it happen.
