Maine Holds First All Girls State Wrestling Tournament
 
The state of Maine has stepped up and decided to create an environment that encourages girls there to compete in non-traditional sports.  Maine held it’s first ever girls only wrestling event Wednesday, February 20th, 2008. 
 
More than 50 girls from 31 high schools were in Farmington, ME Wednesday.  They are all used to having to compete with guys, but they say that it’s really a more level playing field when they com pete against other girls.  Co-Ed wrestling has been around for more than a decade in Maine. With growing interest, the State could see more All-Girl competitions in the future.
 
You can read and see more about this event at the link below:
http://www.wcsh6.com/sports/article.aspx?storyid=81153

CT has seen and experienced the challenges when the only game in town is for girls to compete against boys at the high school level.  At younger ages the inherent strength difference is not a factor and many girls do as well as boys up through the Junior High School level.  In high school male strength begins to develop. 
 
The girls that can compete with boys are truly exceptional wrestlers and Connecticut has had it’s share of them over the past several years.  However, the CT state practice of not allowing wrestling events for just girls at the high school level is a real factor in keeping the number of participating girls to a minimum.  There are enough resources in the state to provide some wrestling events for our girls during the high school season. 
 
However, the price for participation in such events in Connecticut is very high.  The girls that did participate would no longer be allowed to wrestle for their high school teams according to CIAC rules.  In many cases that would hurt the girls since the primary training opportunities are in the high school mat rooms.  It would also hurt many of the teams because a number of these girls currently hold varsity positions on boys teams.  This situation will only change when the CIAC member schools take responsibility for allowing the girls to have opportunities that would cost the schools and the CIAC almost nothing and truly act to encourage more girls to participate in a women’s Olympic sport.
 
Roger Shaw
Director for Women’s Wrestling
USAWCT