\"To think of where we started and where we are now, it's kind of hard to believe we got so big so fast,\" junior Kylie Doty said.<\/p>\n
Wrestling practice at Colfax-Mingo High School looks like many others. The wrestlers file in, tape some ankles, warm up and practice. Except, there is one difference.<\/p>\n
\"Here at Colfax-Mingo, it's the norm to have girls involved in wrestling,\" Head Coach Erin Hume told Local 5.<\/p>\n
To be fair though, it is slowly becoming the norm across the state.<\/p>\n
Back in January, 476 girls competed at the IWCOA Girls High School State Championship.<\/p>\n
\"To think of where we started and where we are now, it's kind of hard to believe we got so big so fast,\" junior Kylie Doty said.<\/p>\n
That weekend showed more than just how far girls wrestling has come.<\/p>\n
\"It's only going to help the sport here in Iowa and across the United States,\" Hume said. \"To see more people involved, and female wrestlers is one way to grow it.\"<\/p>\n
But at Colfax-Mingo, it is about more than just growing a sport.<\/p>\n
\"The more options we give them the more likely they are to be involved and feel connected to the school,\" Hume said.<\/p>\n
It also provides a connection to the generations of girls that follow.<\/p>\n
\"I remember when I was just a small little girl here and there was no one else that was a girl,\" Doty said. \"Having a role model is the best thing you can have.\"<\/p>\n
\"If they want to leave the program in a better place, and have it be a part of them and see it grow once they're done, then it's up to them to be the role model to the younger girls on the team,\" Hume said.<\/p>\n
The 15 girls on last year's Tigerhawk team and the 10 this year are trying to provide a foundation for a sport and future girls to grow from.<\/p>\n
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'It's the norm': Colfax-Mingo part of Iowa wrestling evolution - Local 5 - weareiowa.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \"To think of where we started and where we are now, it's kind of hard to believe we got so big so fast,\" junior Kylie Doty said. Continue reading