With its most significant victory to date, girls’ wrestling has become a recognized high school sport in Pennsylvania.
On Wednesday, the PIAA Board voted unanimously to promote girls’ wrestling, which had previously achieved emerging sport status and surpassed the 100-school limit required for state athletic association approval. The historic decision means girls’ wrestling is officially in business for the 2023-24 season.
Wednesday marked the culmination of a push that began in 2020 when District 3’s JP McCaskey became the first school with an all-girls program.
Pennsylvania is now the 38th state to sponsor all-girls wrestling. A state championship tournament is planned in addition to the boys’ PIAA championships at the Giant Center in Hershey. There are no plans to hold a national team tournament for the coming season.
The 111 schools with formal programs include Gettysburg, a longtime proponent of girls’ wrestling, as well as YAIAA members Dallastown, Kennard-Dale, Spring Grove, South Western and York Suburban. There are currently 35 schools in District 3 with official programs, including Carlisle, which was added to the growing list in April.
Gettysburg hosted the first independent girls state championship meeting in 2018. Former warrior Montana DeLawder, who is nationally listed at King University, was a four-time champion.
On March 12, Warrior sophomore Zoey Haines won the 142-pound state championship title at Central Dauphin High School.
The sport of girls’ wrestling has grown tremendously in popularity and participation in recent years, as evidenced by the ever-growing number of schools with official programs and states sponsoring the sport.
According to SanctionPA, a nonprofit organization that provides information, help, and awareness, more than 34,000 girls participated in high school wrestling in 2021-2022, more than 550 of them in Pennsylvania. Keystone State has seen a more than 200 percent growth rate in recent years, with 11 out of 12 PIAA districts represented in girls’ wrestling.
The PIAA reported an 80% increase in participation over the past year.
Lacrosse and competition cheering were the last two sports added by the PIAA ahead of Wednesday’s vote.
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