Wrestling is known for being a masculine and male-dominated sport, but our school’s athletes have redefined this connotation. The BOYCP wrestling team is one of the few co-ed sports seen on the school campus, with 5 out of the 35 wrestlers being female. These female wrestlers took a huge part in helping the wrestling team win two conference championships.

Despite the girls’ many accomplishments, female wrestlers still go through challenges, like overcoming gender roles and stereotypes.

According to Coach Rottman, “the goal is to make female wrestlers a ‘norm’. This is not to diminish the courage it takes to join a predominately male sport but to show that we have the same expectations for our wrestlers regardless of gender.” The wrestling coaches have taken part in helping overcome gender roles. They have done this by focusing on “work ethic, attitude, and accomplishments” instead of gender. The support wrestlers, like Jovana Cruz, receive from the coaches has motivated wrestlers to do their best in the sport.

Jovana Cruz has been on the wrestling team for approximately three years. When asked about being in a male-dominated sport, senior, Cruz stated, “honestly that’s what I love about being on the wrestling team, proving people wrong. A female can be on a male-dominated team… I want to prove that I am just as great as any other member of the team.”

Cruz believes people outside of the team are usually very supportive and have learned to become more open-minded about gender roles in sports.  

Coach Rottman said, “the girls on the BOYCP wrestling team want to overcome gender roles and be noticed for the skills they have built through blood, sweat, and tears. Their commitment to excellence inspires everyone they come into contact with, male and female.”

– Marlen Gongora