Women's wrestling
by Doug Reese
Women's Wrestling...A New Look at the Future of Our Sport
Women's wrestling is growing and strengthening throughout the world as
more nations sponsor teams and competitions for women each year. In the
past
two years I have had the opportunity to see first hand the Klippan Ladies
Cup in Klippan, Sweden and the Gilbert Schwaub International in Tourcoing,
France. Hundreds of girls and women, age seven to the senior open level
competed in the tournament from all across Europe. The skill, the
technique,
the hunger for victory, and the enthusiasm looked no different than
attending a USA Wrestling tournament here in the United States.
Until recent years, women have not competed against other women in the
sport of wrestling. In the past, young women have often competed against
males on the club and high school level. The growth of women's wrestling in
the United States is now providing new opportunities for young women to
participate and grow as athletes in the sport. In the international
style of
freestyle wrestling new programs and championships such as: Cadet, Junior
and University Nationals have now been created by USA Wrestling for our
female wrestlers; in addition USA Wrestling now offers Tour du Monde
opportunities for the women, giving them the chance to experience new
cultures, international travel, training and competition within a different
environment. USA Wrestling also sponsors Women's Team USA, the women's
freestyle national team. Since 1989, the U.S. has been participating in the
Women's Freestyle World Championships. In July of 1997, the U.S. team
placed
third in the team competition, and produced three silver medalists.
At the high school level the numbers keep increasing. In 1997, the
State of Michigan sponsored the first ever women's state high school
championships. A total of 120 female wrestlers competed in ten weight
divisions. Texas is also starting a women's state high school championship,
in Hawaii and in suburban Chicago women's wrestling leagues or conferences
have been developed. Right now plans are underway to develop a Women's High
School National Wrestling Championship to be be held in Michigan in
March of
1998. Even the women's collegiate movement is growing. In 1993, the
University of Minnesota-Morris was the first college in the nation to
sponsor women's wrestling as an official varsity sport, since that time
women's programs have been developed at New York University, Cumberland
(KY), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Central Washington, and not to
mention countless number of women who have joined their collegiate men's
programs.
Today in the United States, college wrestling programs are
fighting for
their lives. In the past few years we have seen countless number of
collegiate wrestling programs cut due to Title IX. The once great NAIA is
almost dead with just 25 active members, the NCAA I national tournament now
features less than 100 schools, down in numbers by almost 50 percent in the
last 10 years! We have fought, written letters, signed petitions, and
lobbied in Washington with little effect. While we were crying and
complaining about the injustice, women's ice hockey became a NCAA and
Olympic sport.
At the collegiate level women's wrestling is an ideal choice for
creating new opportunities for women. In fact, women's wrestling fits the
NCAA criteria for emerging sports programs. Many schools that support a
men's wrestling program are out of compliance with Title IX - and money is
always a factor. Adding women's wrestling to an athletic program can save
the athletic budget alot of money. Think about it. The coaches, the
equipment, and the facilities are all in place. All that is needed is
singlets and travel expenses. Economically it is the smart choice.
I hear all the time how bad it is because of Title IX. I say let's
embrace Title IX and create opportunities for women's wrestling. Once you
have had the opportunity to see a well conditioned female athlete with
technical skills you will be sold. I challenge all of you to not be called
for stalling...put together an aggressive plan of action to let women into
the wrestling room. The same life long benefits we learned through
wrestling
can be developed in these young women as well. Wrestling is a microcosm of
life, don't cheat anyone out of this experience! The fact of the matter is
there is much to be gained and I have personally learned, there is nothing
to lose by opening up the wrestling room to women. Do what is best for the
sport we love...let it grow!
Note: Doug Reese is the head wrestling coach at the University of
Minnesota-Morris. In 1993 he began the first women's collegiate wrestling
program in the United States. Reese serves as Chairperson on USA
Wrestling's
Women's Wrestling Committee and is a U.S. National Coach for Women's
Freestyle Wrestling. Reese has developed 17 Women's All-Americans at
UM-Morris and seven U.S. National Team Members. Coach Reese has traveled to
Europe three times with Women's Team USA and most recently help coach
the US
Women's World Team to a third place finish in the 1997 Women's World
Championships in Clermont-Ferrand, France where the U.S. team had three
silver medalists.
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The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
The UMM Expect To Win Page -- University of Minnesota,Morris
Copyright 1996 University of Minnesota, Morris
Last Modified: July 24, 1997
Page URL: http://cda.mrs.umn.edu/~wrestle/wexpect.html
For information please contact:
Doug Reese
Head Wrestling Coach
P.E. Center, E. Second St.
Morris, MN 56267
(320) 589-6437
Doug Reese
My home page:
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