First Ever Girls State Wrestling Tournament
Over 100 girls competed in the first ever NSWCA (Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association) Girls High School State Tournament on Saturday, February 1, at York High School.
Female members of the Pierce wrestling team who competed were Makinzie Parsons (160) and Haylee Miller (145). Miller finished 5th, taking Jessica Gage of Medicine Valley by fall. Parsons finished runner up in her class, losing by fall to Evelyn Guzman of Schuyler. Earlier in the day, Parsons beat Klarissa Rinne of Dundy County-Stratton by fall.
State runner-up, Parsons talked about the atmosphere at the first girls state wrestling meet. “Everyone was really excited to be there. It was really cool because it’s the first time that this has ever happened so everyone was ready to see who was going to be on top, who were going to be those top ones who were going to make history. Even though we all did, the state champions are there in history.”
Though girls wrestling is still not recognized on the NSAA level, The Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association said they felt the need to create the first girls state wrestling tournament, so they too could have the same opportunities as the boys.
Les Painter, who helps coach the Pierce wrestling team and who helped organize the tournament said, “Overall the day couldn’t have gone any better. I couldn't be more proud of these girls; it's just big stuff just to get them to try it first, and then once they start having success and seeing that it's fun and that's what it's got to do is keep the fun in it.”
Looking to next season, Parsons said, “I feel like being the state runner-up, I could come back again next year and be the state champion and that would be so much cooler than coming in state runner-up, even though I lost in the heartbreak round.”
As a team, Pierce wrestlers finished 15th. As the girls portion of the wrestling team grows, Painter says he commends those who tried wrestling this year. “These girls stepped on the mat for the very first time this year, and we had a girl get 2nd a girl get 5th. That's what it's going to take is people stepping out on the mat and being the first one to do it and nothing against it, but having my own daughters in it I think it's helped too because people see that there are other girls doing it and that's the biggest thing to grow this is to see the other girls that are doing it.”
