Jayce Galvez is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Marcos de Niza High School for AZPreps365.com

TEMPE -- As girl’s wrestling is growing as a sport, the Marcos De Niza High School's girls wrestling team has shown growth of its own.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSH), participation in girl’s wrestling has increased by 15% in the last year, adding about 1,000 schools with a wrestling program for girls.

Starting the 2018-2019 season, the AIA added girls wrestling as an emerging sport. In 2020, the AIA voted it an official sport.

Last season, the Padres fought through injuries. Season highlights, though, were Ariana Thomas winning the Division II State Championship at the 132 lb weight class, and junior Naray Watkins qualifying for the state tournament as well.

“It's really been so exciting to see how womens sports is really blossoming and growing,” Marcos de Niza freshman Annika Roman said. “And not just in female-dominated sports, in male-dominated sports, like combat.” 

Roman has high hopes for the future of girls wrestling, especially at Marcos De Niza. She hopes for a sisterhood that will make them close, even more than last season.

As head coach of the girl’s wrestling club team at Arizona State University, Alex Torres has seen a lot of success for the women.

Torres credited Arizona Christian University, which had an All-American from Arizona during its first inaugural season with a women’s team.

“It's not even just showing how women's wrestling at the next level is growing, but the Arizona girls are also finding success,” Torres said.

The NCAA added girls wrestling as a sport in January 2025. It was a big step in getting girls wrestling equal recognition, however, there is more work that can be done.

“Just for women to have power, they can do what the boys do as well,” freshman Jayde Velderrain said. “Wrestling's not gonna stay a man's team or game. I would like to just see more women come and try.”

As boys wrestling teams are showing success, it is important to recognize if they are trying to have a wrestling team for girls as well.

“Other schools I've noticed are just like, ‘Hey, your boys are doing really good. Why don't your girls have success?’” said Torres, adding that wrestling is growing as a sport due to the amount of growth the girls are experiencing. But he expressed concern about other programs not pushing to have a girls team.

Joining wrestling may seem like a bold leap for girls, however it is well worth it through the training they do, Velderrain said. 

“You just miss one little detail, you're doing 50 burpees,” Velderrain said. “But overall, it's a good way to not just get out of hard things in life, but learn to understand your body, and what it means. Because wrestling is not always for the weak. It does take a toll, and breaks you, and then builds you back up. Wrestling is just life changing.”