With Northwood’s fall sports season coming to an end, students are beginning to buzz about new athletic opportunities. For junior female wrestler Dream Walker and sophomore wrestler Carleigh Burger, the winter sports season is a time to display their passion out on the wrestling mat.
“I’ve had prior experience with activities like wrestling and I was always drawn to sports like that,” Burger said.
Their passion for wrestling began for both girls at a young age. Walker started wrestling at a summer camp. Burger was first introduced to the sport when she participated in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts.)
Overall, the girls’ adoration for wrestling is just as strong as it was when they first decided to join the team.
“I decided to join wrestling because I thought it would be a good outlet to work out, and since I started when I was younger,” Walker said. “I remember always having a lot of fun with it. I really wanted to continue in high school.”
“I wrestle because the team always pushes you to continue to do your best,” Burger said. “Everyone really roots for you on the team.”
According to both girls, female high school wrestlers often have different experiences from their male teammates. Problems based on gender arise, and it hasn’t always been easy. Walker says she has faced unfairness because of her gender while wrestling throughout the years.
“A lot of the time it feels like Carleigh and I are just fighting for things that other guys are just given [in the world of wrestling],” Walker said. “For example, matches: we have to go the extra mile to compete. Of course you deal with the guys not wanting to wrestle you because you’re a girl.”
Other team members do not think there is any gender bias in the team.
“Whenever we do drills or even just wrestle there’s no hesitation when you’re partnered up [with a girl],” sophomore Ryan Brinker said. “It’s just like ‘Hey! You’re cool, let’s wrestle.’ It doesn’t really fit into what gender you are, it’s more that you’re just part of the team.”
“ I feel that having girls on the team doesn’t really matter to me [in the] least,” sophomore Sunday Oo said. “They add more diversity to our group.”
The first match that took place Nov. 10 came to an abrupt cancellation after a wrestler on an opposing team was injured. While most players got to spar before the cancellation, Burger was left with no match since she was put last in line to go, as other athletes did not want to wrestle her.
When asked further about whether or not the team has a healthy dynamic, both Walker and Burger clarified their perspective, and added that they are content with the season so far.
“I think we [the teammates] get along–when we’re on the mat with our other teammates it’s good because we have the same interest,” Walker said.
“Honestly it’s been pretty good,” Burger said. “Everything is starting to flow together and it’s turning out well.”
Being on the varsity team is a goal both girls are working towards as they work hard to prove their place. A player can earn a spot on the varsity team by winning in a wrestle-off against a teammate of the same weight class; those who are the only member of their weight class are automatically on varsity. Burger and Walker must go against their weight group to achieve their goal.
“The goal is to at least make varsity once; I would really love that,” Burger said. “ It all depends on who wants to wrestle me in my weight class though.”
Walker’s goal for this season sets the bar higher since she has been on the team since her freshman year.
“My goal is to go back to states because freshman year I did really well,” Walker said. “I want to go back and try to place first if I can.”
Walker and Burger say that as the season goes on, the team starts to get more comfortable with each other, and the support of their fellow teammates grows.
“This year and freshman year there was a lot of support because I really got involved with all of it,” Walker said. “The coaches made sure I wasn’t left out.”
Other team members are excited to cheer one another on and see each other compete.
“Whenever we get a chance to see each other wrestling, everyone cheers on one another,” sophomore Marshall Goller said.
For Burger, the support of female peers is a big season highlight .
“I see a lot of girls who might not have as much confidence to go into this sport,” Burger said. “They really want me to succeed and it’s really great.”
