As time passes and the girls wrestling scene continues to grow, the level of competition is only going to get better.

It used to be girls found their way to the sport via a family member – usually dad or sibling(s) brother – who competed in wrestling, and they were curious about it or introduced to it without much of an outlet.

“My little brother got into it, and he needed a partner, so I guess I started out by default,” Basha state champion Hanah Naccarati-Cholo said earlier this season. “I figured if I am going to do all this work I want to doing it as best as I can.”

But now?

With U.S. women winning gold medals like Helen Maroulis in 2016 and Sarah Hildebrandt in 2024, colleges adding it as scholarship program and a local product like Audrey Jimenez, four-time Arizona state champion (three times at the girls meet, and one in the boys) and U.S. national team member, there are actual role models grabbing younger girls attention now.

And those role models could come from one wrestlers frrom one of the 208 schools in the AIA now fielding girls wrestling teams.

“Hannah has had young girls ask her for an autograph and take a picture with her,” Basha coach Mike Garcia said. “She’s had some success nationally, and she won a state title last year. The young girls are starting to see someone they can try and emulate. It’s happening right in our own (practice) room. Girls are striving to be like Hannah and it’s great for the sport.”

Hanah Naccarati-Cholo (right) has the personality, and wrestling talent to be a role model for younger girls entering the sport. (Jason P. Skoda/AZPreps365)Technique has sharpened, dedication has deepened, and the competition level has risen to the point where there isn’t the huge discrepancy there once was when matches of each gender were viewed side-by-side.

“The girls have really started to focus on the sport, and you can see the difference,” Willliams Field girls wrestling coach George Piestewa. “It used to be girls with experience would win easily because she understood the sport and knew technique against someone just starting out. You don’t see that as much because the girls are getting a lot more experience.”  

Garcia, who was one of the first coaches to embrace girls wrestling as a separate team than the boys, said one of the best parts of the state wrestling tournament is looking forward to highly-anticipated matchups. It’s long been the case on the boys side, but now it is happening with girls as well.

“There are certain matchups you can look at and realize it is going be one of those matches you can’t miss,” he said. “Even side-by-side against a boys match, the girls matchups can be just as impressive.”

The ever-rising level of competition will be on display this weekend at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum for the state wrestling tournament this weekend.

There will be 15 returning state champions including three two-timers in Pueblo junior Elizabeth Valenzuela Smith (114 pounds), Cienega’s Daesiah Varner (235) and Ben Franklin junior Madelyn Oliver (165).

There are two divisions on the girls side with defending champion Sunnyside, Red Mountain, Campo Verde, Sierra Linda an others in the mix for Division I, while Division II will see programs like ALA-Gilbert North, Somerton, Yuma Catholic, Crismon and Snowflake making a push for team title.

One of the developments in recent years is that female wrestling is starting to attract athletes from other sports.

“We’re starting to get some other those athletes and they are bringing their fan base, too,” Garcia said. “It’s exciting. The thing that I am noticing is they don’t like to lose and it really shows. They wrestle with real heart and work for (success). When they win, they spread the excitement to their teammates.”

One of the reasons the sport continues to grow is the support schools are receiving and desire from girls to take advantage of the opportunities.

“The coaches and girls have really accepted the challenge,” Garcia said. “There might have been some schools late to embrace it when we first introduced it back in 2018, but once it became a sanctioned sports in 2021 it has really it a different level.”

As it continues to grow the possibilities are endless.

Think about some adolescent girl in the stands this weekend who just might be inspired by Valenzuela Smith, Varner, Oliver, Naccarati-Cholo or any of the 24 state champions – 12 weight classes per division – who climb to the top of the podium this weekend.

“They can definitely serve as role models for the next generation,” Garcia said. “Some young girl just might see someone who inspires them to start the sport. It’s getting to that point where our level of competition is making it really exciting to watch.”

Send comments and story ideas to Jskoda@azpreps365.com.