High school girls wrestlers across the country are seeing their future through a new lens in the wake of the NCAA’s decision to add women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport. 

The dream-crushing disparity that once existed for girls with college wrestling dreams now seems a little more promising.  

For decades, girls have had to make a heart-wrenching decision between attending a name-brand university or wrestling in college. Thousands have been forced to choose with some searching out loopholes and accommodations while facing never-ending regret and frustration. 

“I was forced to chose between my academics and wrestling,” said Skylar Grote, a USA Wrestling Senior-level athlete. “There were no good options.” 

In a post on her Instagram after the NCAA decision was finalized, Grote shared the story of her young wrestling career and the sacrifices she had to make for the sport she loved. 

“I cried for months when making my college decision. I knew I would have to give up a lot, just to pursue dreams of becoming the very best in my sport,” she wrote. 

“I’d be lying if part of me wasn’t upset that it has taken this long. That we have been denying young, capable, and talented girls the opportunity to excel in the highest capacity, but then I sit back and remember how important it is to be grateful.

Every past, current, and future version of myself is relieved today. WE DID IT.”  

Still, the college recruitment process for female wrestlers lacks the prestige and pizzazz compared to their male counterparts. 

Marisol Nugent knows the feeling all too well. 

When she was 17, she emailed 36 D1 college coaches asking for the opportunity to practice at their facilities with the men’s wrestling team if she got admitted into their university. She said only four responded. 

Nugent was nationally ranked throughout her high school career. She performed well in the classroom and posted a 30 on the ACT. 

“There was this overwhelming reality that my brother had about 124 options, and I had none,” Nugent said about her twin brother, Trevor, who moved on to wrestle for Bucknell. “College recruitment is such a big thing for the ego, and I felt like I was having an ego death.”

Nugent said she received encouragement from Kyra Barry, a prominent figure in the sport who has served as a USA Wrestling women’s freestyle team leader. Nugent started applying for schools she wanted to attend. She ended up at Lehigh University, pioneering its first club, along with Grote. Her hope was to transition the club into a D1 program, but there was a resource shortage.  

After a call with North Carolina associate head coach Tony Ramos, Nugent elected to move to Chapel Hill and train with the Tar Heels. She made her way onto the roster along with the men’s athletes, trained alongside fellow Olympic hopeful Macey Kilty and competed at women’s open tournaments. 

“I knew my whole life that if I was ever given this opportunity, I would take it," she said. 

For a generation of girls still in high school, there are more avenues than ever to pursue high-level wrestling and a college degree. 

For Jaclyn Bouzakis, a highly credentialed sophomore at Wyoming Seminary and U17 World Team Member, thoughts of her academic and career goals were blurry before the monumental NCAA decision. 

“There’s so much I want to do after wrestling,” Bouzakis said. “I’m a lot more excited that when I’m able to pick where I’m going to college, I can think about this being a forever college that’s going to get me ready for not only my next four years of wrestling but for afterwards.”

Bouzakis watched her older brothers — Nic and Vince — go through the recruiting process as highly coveted prospects. Nic picked Ohio State and Vince recently committed to Pitt. She wanted a similar experience. 

Nonetheless, she’s grateful for the opportunities she’ll have at the next level. 

“It would be awesome to be able to thank (the generations who came before me and didn’t have these opportunities) because they paved the way for everyone that’s after them,” she said.  

Wyoming Seminary To Compete in Puerto Rico Dual Against U20 National Team  

Bouzakis and her Wyoming Seminary teammates are set to visit Puerto Rico in early March for a training camp and dual against the U20 Puerto Rican National Team. 

The Wyoming Seminary girls usually travel to Estonia for their annual international trip, but this year, the European event falls roughly a week ahead of Women’s Nationals and World Team Trials. Wyoming Seminary coach Cornell Robinson said it would be in the best interest of the girls to not travel internationally right before such an important event. This will be the first time the wrestlers have veered off and visited a Caribbean island instead.

“I’m looking forward to putting our girls in those hostile environments and tough situations where we’re not always the favorites,” Robinson said. 

According to Robinson, Wyoming Seminary will primarily be in control of the training structures, focusing more on par terre throughout the week. He looks forward to the girls getting “tough and unspoiled” through their new training environment while enjoying the sun, beach and atmosphere of Puerto Rico. 

Sturgill Helps Baylor Boys Quest For Duals Title

Tennessee state champion Ryleigh Sturgill faced a dilemma earlier this month. She had to choose between finishing her season with the girls’ squad or chipping in with the boys' team in its pursuit of a spot in the state dual tournament. 

She elected to wrestle with the boys. 

Rex Kendle, who coaches Sturgill at Baylor School, called her father. He thought Sturgill could help Baylor’s quest for a state dual title by filling its 113-pound vacancy. 

He was right. 

Wrestling 13 pounds heavier than her normal girls’ weight class of 100, the sophomore stepped onto the mat in the second-to-last match against rival McCallie. She had no idea what she needed to do to help Baylor win.  

“I didn’t know that I couldn't get majored, teched or pinned,” said Sturgill in an interview with Flowrestling’s Kyle Klingman. “No one told me that, which I’m glad they didn’t because that would have stressed me out.”

Sturgill started the match strong, scoring the first takedown. It was exhilarating, the gym shaking with the shouts of peers, teammates and alumni all chanting her name. Sturgill ultimately came up short individually in an 11-8 decision. 

But that was all it took for her team to win.  

Even though she lost — McCallie had moved its 120-pounder up a weight earlier in the dual and had to forfeit the last match — it secured a 30-29 victory for Baylor and a ticket to the state dual championship. 

“All of the guys wrestled their hearts out, and every single point that they gave won us the dual,” Sturgill said. 

Despite forfeiting her chance to compete at this year’s girls’ state championship, Sturgill is still allowed to compete at the 2025 National Prep Wrestling Championships in February, alongside some of the best competition in the country.