BRILLION, Wis (NBC 26) -- Just before the WIAA unanimously voted to add a girls individual state wrestling tournament to their repertoire, Brillion quietly secured an all-girls youth wrestling team after years of handfuls of girls meshing in boys programs.
"When you get the growth that we've had over the last few years and the different programs around the state, it really shows that WIAA will take a look at it," Brillion youth wrestling coach Brock Miller said. "And if there's a sport that needs it, they will come through."
Wisconsin is only the 27th state to adopt an individual girls state wrestling tournament. With that vote, the association also passed uniform and hair accommodations that they say breaks down gender barriers within the sport.
"Older people just think it's meant for dudes," Miller said of the sport. "Like girls aren't strong enough."
Miller said that male opponents frequently express extra confidence on the mat competing against females purely based on their gender ahead of actual competition.
"We think it's great. It's long overdue," Brillion wrestling parent Tina Galoff said. "We were fine with the fact that if she had to wrestle through high school going against guys all the time, we were fine with that. But there's always that thought in the back of your mind that yeah, there is a difference physically."
Sophia Galoff grew up wrestling her older brothers that also compete within WIAA. She said her father was hesitant of her wrestling against boys when she expressed initial interest in heading to the mat.
"When girls develop, it's kind of one of those things where I'd rather have my daughter wrestling another female than a guy," Dale Galoff said.
Adults and kids involved with the program think the heavy contact sport provides life skills and mental confidence.
"When you take on a girl and you're winning out there by yourself, it's not on other teammates, it's not their fault, it's all by yourself," Miller said. "And if you can learn to lose on the mat by yourself and win on the mat by yourself, it's a really great confidence booster."
Miller was enthusiastic that his daughter Brinley wanted to participate in a sport that her father was so involved in as a coach.
"I think it's important because you get the confidence that you've never really gotten to have," she said.
Competition also provides a social bonding experience for local wrestlers in northeast Wisconsin.
"Like with me, I can more connect with the girls than with the guys," Sophia Galoff said. Dale noted that she's become close with her toughest competitor from Wrightstown, and they like to coordinate athletic events together.
While the WIAA has not fully sanctioned girls wrestling as its own sport within the state, the upcoming tournament provides a launching point to garner interest as schools would ideally start to field their own all-girls programs. If enough teams form to sustain a competitive season, the WIAA could build the sport further.
