Girls’ wrestling participation has seen explosive growth, particularly in high school, with numbers nearly doubling from 2022 to 2023 and 45 states now sanctioning girls’ wrestling programs. 

Here’s a more detailed look at the growth:

•Rapid Increase:
The number of girls wrestling in high school has quintupled since 2013, and nearly doubled from 2022 to 2023. 

•Sanctioned Programs:
45 states now have officially recognized girls’ wrestling programs, up from just six in 2017. 

•National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Data:
The NFHS reports that the number of high school girls wrestling teams has quadrupled nationally over the past decade, and the number of girls wrestling in high school has quintupled to over 50,000. 

•College Level Growth:
More than 1,200 women wrestlers are competing at NCAA schools today, with 76 women’s wrestling programs at NCAA schools in 2023-24, and projections pointing to an additional 17 programs in 2024-25. 

•Increased Opportunities:
More states are sanctioning girls’ wrestling programs, leading to more opportunities for girls to compete at the high school and college levels. 

•Changing Mindsets:
As girls’ wrestling grows, there’s a shift in how parents and coaches view the sport, with more fathers who wrestled introducing their daughters to the sport and more girls-only events becoming common. 

•Benefits of Wrestling:
Wrestling benefits female athletes in a myriad of ways, instilling confidence, grit, resilience, mental toughness, self-esteem, self-reliance, and discipline. 

•Challenges Remain:
Despite the growth, old stigmas persist and new challenges emerge, such as ensuring equal opportunities and resources for girls’ programs.

Information generated from creditable online resources.