Should Girls Wrestle?

Should Girls Wrestle? Persuasive Essay By: Mr. Sherman, English 10, 6th Hour

All over the nation girls are breaking records and beating guys in Wrestling. For an example, "in 2005 seventeen girls nation wide qualified for high school state championships" which required them to wrestle boys, (SI Page 2. Quote by Kent Bailo) Even with this some people don't think girls should wrestle for reasons such as girls aren't as dedicated , they can't produce enough testosterone so they have different muscle mass , they aren't as good , or other lame reasons. A lot of the reasons used are excuses, stereotypical and or false statements just for someone to be sexist. I believe that girls should be able to wrestle.

First of all, the saying that girls are not dedicated is completely false, one of the girl wrestlers on our team is more dedicated then some of the guys. Not only does she go to almost every practice and meet, she always makes weight or is under, when she has only wrestled twice, because of availability of JV matches.

Next, just because a girl doesn't produce as much testosterone as a guy and has a lower muscle mass doesn't mean that they can't compete, be as good as or better than the guys! Muscle mass is not the only factor that determines if your good or not. Chris Milder wrestled a guy earlier in the year with arms three times the size of his and Chris won. It all depends on other factors such as strategy, speed, coordination, talent and experience. It was the opponents first year of wrestling compared to Chris's minimum of four.

Every year either the same girls or new girls prove that they can compete with guys over and over again, girls no longer want to sit behind a stat book with a pencil in their hand or sit on a pillow on the side of a mat in a short skirt and pom poms. They want to be out there in the action doing what they're good at rather than what people expect them to be good at. Look at the following girl wrestlers.

Some examples of girls being able to compete is in a magazine, called Wrestling USA, from California has a selection of "All American Girls", which all included girls that wrestled all from California . Each of the female wrestlers placed at least once at the same tournament over the years . Three girls Ivy Bier ,Emily Espana and Lauren Knight wrestled at 134 pounds . Ivy place eighth in 2006, eleventh in 2005, and tenth in 2004. Emily placed fourth in 2006 and seventh in 2005. Laurent placed 3rd in 2006, fifth in 2005 and seventh in 2004. The Two girls wrestled at 144 pounds, were Sheila McCabe and Ashley Mora . In 2006 Sheila placed first and Ashley placed fourth and in 2005 Sheila placed second. ( Wrestling USA)

Next, look at all the girl wrestlers breaking numerous records last wrestling season. They all tried, trained hard, competed and deserved what they got.

First, Amy Whitbeck was fifteen years old and from Duanesburg, New York. Being a sophomore and wrestling at 103 pounds, Amy only weighed ninety-six pounds. At Regionals Amy was the division champion ( Capital News Page 1). Never before in the 44 year history had a girl qualified for the New York State Public High school Athletic Association or in simple terms New York State Wrestling. Not only is Amy the first girl to qualify, she is the first girl to make it to the championships .

Second, Misty Corwin became the first female wrestler to place at state in Oregon. In the state semi finals Misty pinned her first opponent in five minutes and three seconds ( third period, each period consists of 2 minutes unless a pin or a tech fall, when an wrestler is ahead by 15 points , is called) she pinned her second opponent in forty-seven seconds and she took fifth in her 103 pound weight class. ( Jake Schubert page 1)

Next, Alyssa Lampe, a senior last year who wrestled at 103 in Division Two.# Alyssa had a season record of 45 wins and 5 losses, of those fifty wins approximately five were girls. She proves that a girl can be better than a guy. Alyssa started wrestling when she was six so her older brother, Anthony would have a partner, who had the state title at the 112 weight class. Even through all the rude statements about how girls shouldn't wrestle and that they should do more girly things she didn't give up. It really paid off, Alyssa took second last year at state ending her high school career being the first girl to qualify and compete in a WIAA Individual State tournament in a 61 year history, the first girl not only to place but to reach the championship.

Finally, Another example of a girl being able to compete with the guys is Michaela Hutchinson, a sophomore at Sky view High school in Alaska. Also wrestling at 103 pounds and growing up in a family of wrestlers. Two of Michaela's brothers held state titles and six years ago her older sister placed third.( SI Page 2) At the regionals tournment Michaela had to wrestle Tucker VanMatre in the championship, she pinned him in 47 seconds, Tucker said "It wasn't a big deal and he expected it because she's a good wrestler." ( SI Page 1) Michaela entered the state tournament being ranked first in her weight class. In the third and final period Michaela earned an escape (which is one point) and she won the match 1-0, which made her the first girl in the nation to ever have a state title. Michaela finished the season with a record of 45-4 including thirty -three pins , only one pin short of the states single-season record. (Wilmont,Ron pages 1 and 2)

Next, People often stereotype women to