From ALISHA CALL/Ark City USD 470 Director of Communications
On Tuesday, 34 fierce Arkansas City Middle School girls and their dedicated coaches made history by hosting the school’s first home girls wrestling event. The mats and a packed gym witnessed history unfold as ACMS triumphed with victories over Winfield (66-15), McPherson (84-6), and El Dorado (66-24).
“Feeling your hand get raised at the end of a winning match feels amazing,” Jeslyn Swanson, ACMS 8th grade wrestler, said. “I did not realize how much wrestling would change me, not only as an athlete but as a person as well. I continue wrestling because I fell in love with the sport and have great teammates that keep me going.
“This year, I want to push myself 10 times harder than last year and finish the season as an undefeated league champion.”
ACMS Head Girls Wrestling Coach Jaden Helms said that while the wins are exciting, he’s most proud of the girls for showing up every day wanting to learn, do their best, and be successful.
“As coaches, we have very high expectations but at the same time, our girls have the same expectations of themselves,” Helms said. “Win or lose, the hard work and dedication is what makes this team so special.”
The journey of ACMS’s girls wrestling team, now in its second year, began with a remarkable response from students and has evolved into a symbol of growth and optimism.
A couple of years ago, it became apparent that girls’ wrestling was growing across the state including at Ark City High School.
With school board approval, ACMS Athletics/Activities Director Zach Wiederstein and the coaches hosted a meeting to see what students might be interested. When 30 girls showed up, the coaches were both shocked and a little skeptical.
However, 27 girls completed the first season and the team finished third in the Patriot League South Tournament, only trailing behind more experienced teams.
According to Anthony Whetstone, the Girls Wrestling Coach at ACHS, several 8th graders from last year have opted to continue their wrestling journey at the high school level, contributing to the growth of the team.
“We’re still a smaller team – having ten female wrestlers – but we’re up from only four last year,” Whetstone said. “It’s exciting to see the growth and I’m optimistic for the future.”
He mentioned that in middle school, girls can play both basketball and wrestling because the seasons happen at different times. But in high school, girls need to pick one sport, which might explain why fewer girls join. Whetstone also talked about the history of girls’ wrestling in Kansas and said he thinks things have gotten better over time.
“Before the sanctioning of girls wrestling as a stand-alone sport in 2019, girls who wanted to wrestle had to do so with the boys,” he said. “In 2021, as a freshman, Lily Pendergrass broke a barrier becoming the first Ark City female wrestler to qualify for state.”
Pendergrass said when she first moved to Ark City from Russell, Kan., she was the only girl in wrestling.
“It was a big change for me and my family. Watching the high school girls’ program grow each year makes me proud to have paved the way,” Pendergrass said. “The middle school girls joining in helps prepare them for high school wrestling and that’s a win for all of us. I’m thrilled that our girls’ wrestling program has expanded!”
Pendergrass’ encouragement to the younger girls is her motto, “Do it for you.”
“While we’re a team, what you do on the mat or in tournaments is ultimately for yourself,” she said. “You put in the work, whether working hard or hardly working in practice, and your team is there to support and help you improve together.”
According to KSHSAA, girls wrestling has seen a consistent increase across the state, jumping from around 111 athletes in 2015 to over 2,000 in 2022.
As the number of girls participating in wrestling continues to surge across the state, the future holds the promise of even greater achievements in the realm of female athletics.
The story of Ark City Girls Wrestling is not just about victories on the mat; it’s a narrative of empowerment, breaking barriers, and shaping a legacy for the generations to come.
