DALEVILLE, Ind. - History is being made on the mats this season for the girls at Daleville High School. For many years, wrestling was thought of as a male-dominated sport, but that image is changing rapidly as these female athletes are taking the sport to the next level.  

For sophomore Raegan Jackson, girls wrestling gives her a new sense of comfort. 

“For me, it means a lot to me because when I first started, I wrestled boys, and it wasn’t the most comfortable experience and being able to wrestle girls and be more comfortable and they are even more friendly than the guys are so they will come up and talk to you,” Jackson said. “It’s just a better environment to be around.”  

Daleville has more than doubled their female wrestlers from last season to now. This season is just getting started and the team is setting ambitious goals.  

For Assistant Coach Julius Gerencser, having this team pushes girls to get out of their comfort zones. 

“I just want to watch these girls grow and prosper into a great life,” Gerencser said. “Wrestling is such a demanding sport mentally and physically that you just - it pressures you into doing things that make you uncomfortable, and wrestling is great at making that comfortable. Going up to work every day is not comfortable but you’ve got to do it and that’s what made me what to do this even more.”  

From take-downs to triumphs, these young athletes are proving that wrestling is just as much a girl’s sport as anyone's.  

From the endless support given by their coaches and teammates, these girls are part of more than just a sport. They are part of a family. 

“The girls and coaches, win or lose; Dalton (head coach) doesn’t turn his back to me and there’s always something to improve and the girls are just like my family,” said Jackson. 

With friendship, passion and a love for the sport, these wrestlers are showing that strength has no gender. As the season begins to unfold, they’re ready to make their mark—one takedown at a time.  

The Daleville girls wrestling team has their first ever match held at home on Nov. 21, 2024 at 6 p.m.. 

Contact Emma Baysinger with comments at emma.baysinger@bsu.edu.