HILLSIDE, Ill. (WLS) — It has been almost a year since the first-ever Illinois high school girls’ high school state wrestling tournament was held. Now more high school girls are taking up the sport. Caveat West High School is no exception.
Until a few months ago, some members of the Proviso West High School wrestling team couldn’t tell you about the sport.
“I’ve never liked wrestling or even been fascinated,” said wrestler Marisol Rojas Serna.
But for some, competing was a dream.
“I always wanted to wrestle, ever since middle school, but I never got the chance,” said wrestler Jocelyn Gutierrez.
The opportunity arose this school year at Proviso West. The school started the girls’ wrestling program.
“My boyfriend wanted me to wrestle and I thought I didn’t even know we had a wrestling team. So I came here and I saw that and I thought that’s really cool,” wrestler Kayla Kelly.
“I literally walked in here thinking you were just throwing at each other, but actually there’s technology behind everything,” Gutierrez said.
Wrestling is a tough sport. But every day the wrestlers prove they are up to the challenge.
“It was really hard, some days I just can’t even walk. But I love it,” Gutierrez said.
“This will teach you a lot about yourself mentally and physically,” Kelly said.
For some of the girls on the team, sport was a lifeline they didn’t know they needed.
Your trainers track your progress.
“Go to class, be respectful, be on time for practice, stay for extra practice, don’t argue so much in the hallway, don’t argue, pay more attention to class. You know a lot of teachers came to us for that and it helps,” said assistant wrestling coach Naquita Williams.
“We want to get kids on the team, we want to help change lives,” said wrestling head coach Jahwan Akui.
The coaches equip the wrestlers to win in competition and in life.
“I’m stricter on myself now and feel like I’ve learned a lot. And I can use that as leverage to do things as an adult,” Rojas Serna said.
Some of the wrestlers love the sport so much that they hope to continue wrestling in college on an academic scholarship.
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