In the Leslin Room behind the MacArthur High School Gymnasium, 17 female wrestling teams can polish the crafts.
It is not unusual for girls to find music hitting because the girls have become pairs, moving around and running around the room and cooling from long practice.
The scene may sound like a daily work for any high school sports team, but the women's wrestling team at the Long Island High School in the suburbs is a bit rare.
In particular, high school wrestling and women's high school wrestling are growing nationwide, but MacArthur was the first All Girls High School Wrestling Team in Nassau.
It is a distinction that Nick Lauzenburger and Travis Cooksie coach, and the captain of senior Gabi Shectman is proud throughout the first season.
“I think girl wrestling is seen from a new perspective,” Shekkoman said. “I think women's wrestling is growing nationwide especially in long islands, and now the women's team has developed, so I think the stigma of women's wrestling is really decreasing.”
In Nasso County, MacArthur and Unionale High School are the only all -girl wrestlings team at the high school level, and Suffolk has only five approved high school students.
The McCar program includes not only the districts, but also girls from other schools such as JFK Belmore, Farming Dale, Seaset, Mefum, Helix, and Seaford.
This is a mixture of athletes whose skills are swollen, from being involved in sports when you were young to those who first stepped into the mat.
Their introduction to sports may differ because family and friends only listen to the presentation at school and want to try something new, but still, the passion for wrestling. it is clear.
“It's a part of my life now, and I love it,” said Junior Justin Zheng, who went to Seaford High School and won sports for the first time this year.
Girlsless rings have become one of the fastest high school sports in countries where both gender participants are increasing.
According to the data posted by NYSPHSAA, New York has increased the participation of high school girls wrestling from 2023 to 2014 to the present school year by 63 %.
According to AP communication reports, the number of girls participating in high school wrestling nationwide jumped to 50,000 in 2023.
In the first year, MacArthur did not participate in dual meetings, but instead participated in a girl wrestling a wrestling tournament in a long island in Safek County.
According to Louzenburger, he participated in Huntington, Bayshore and Copier Gyu tournament.
This program will participate in the Nasso County Girls' Women's Resting Championship this weekend. Lauzenburger is convinced that some wrestlers can participate in the state championship spot.
The team members have noticed the impact of the program encouraging other girls to be involved in sports.
“There is also a bundle of young girls coming to tournaments and younger brothers. They can see something that gives them a strong bundle and inspired them,” said helix. “I know many girls in my school, they come to me, they are not even interested in wrestling, but they are” you are very cool. ” This is like opening a door like “I want to try this.” Especially when I was in sixth grade, I didn't even know what wrestling was. And I just found it someday. ”
“Next year, we definitely have more girls, so we definitely think there are more girls,” said Sophia Ronbald, a second -year student in Farmingdale. “Only word -of -mouth from all girls in various areas. So I really hope that this team can grow next season.”
It is also the hope of Lauzenburger, and the daughter is a member of the team, and I believe that the McCar Care Program is the starting point of other girls' high school teams in the county.
“This goal is to let these girls know that it is okay to come here, and then let other girls in your school know that they will try it for the next few years,” he said. I did it. “And they come to a place where they can come enough and they can break and become their own team.
“That's the way we help to grow it, and first of all, first, and most importantly, it's a very stigma that it's a man's sport. Give it to the girls who don't want to try it. ”
