Inaugural Season Of Girls Varsity Wrestling In Wyoming Was A Success For Sheridan

Regardless if they won a state championship or not, history was made in Wyoming as girls varsity wrestling took to the mat for the first time this season.

In the past, girls that wanted to wrestle competed and practiced against boys, but not everyone was ok with that idea.

Eventually enough schools in the state were able to put a varsity girls team together and before this season started, the Wyoming High School Activities Association gave the sport the green light to begin practice and competition.

Sophomore Becca Oetken of Sheridan ended up winning the state championship in the 235 pound weight class.

She says she had no experience when the season started, and wanted to try something new, plus inspire other girls to compete.

She adds a lot has changed since practice started about 3 months ago.

“I feel like girls wrestling has come a long way since the beginning of the season. We all really improved because nobody knew they were doing at the beginning of the season. We’ve all just kind of made it into a joke like, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe we’re wrestling,’ and then after learning and listening to our coaches, we all improved and at the end I feel women’s wrestling has become more popular and everybody is so supportive for us.”

The Sheridan Girls Wrestling team placed 3rd at the inaugural state meet.

Coach Marcie Lane says she took the coaching job because since it was the first year for girls varsity wrestling in Wyoming, there was no direction for the team to go but up.

“It’s an opportunity to see a huge amount of growth. Anytime that there’s a first, you get to see these girls grow and their confidence and when they step out onto the mat and their skills, I think just being a part of that is an amazing experience. I would never want to turn that down. They had great attitudes and that’s all that we ask for. They were willing to learn, they asked lots of questions, they wanted to learn, they were eager, you can’t argue with any of those things.”

Coach Lane is a former wrestler herself and competed in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.