It’s not abnormal for little sisters, such as senior Emily Lesser, to look up to their elder brothers, or in Lesser’s case, Charlie Lesser. This young lady may copy everything he did: talking how he talked, wearing what he wore, and even being interested in his sport, wrestling. 

Although they wish to follow the same path, many girls may not get that chance. High school sports tend traditionally male dominated, and only on certain occasions have an alternative for girls.

“My brother was a wrestler so I’ve always had an interest in the sport,” said Lesser. 

This was an issue for Lesser, who had always had an interest in wrestling, much like her brother, but could not play due to the fact that there were no Nebraska girls wrestling leagues included in schools.

But this year, Lesser is getting a chance to play the sport she’s always enjoyed. In May of 2021, the Nebraska Sports and Activities Association officially established girls wrestling as a Class A sport, meaning Millard North High School got their first ever girls wrestling team.

 “When I found out girls wrestling was officially a mandated sport in Nebraska I looked into it more,” said Lesser, “a friend in my anatomy class had previously been on the [non-Millard North wrestling] team and told me to give preseason a shot.” 

The 2021-2022 season started on November 15th with tryouts, and will end with wrestling state on the 18th and 19th of February.

This is coach Christina Hansen’s first year as a wrestling coach. Previously, Hansen had swam for Papillion La-Vista high school and for Northern Colorado University. After she had graduated, she decided to take on  Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 

“My Jiu Jitsu coaches have been absolutely outstanding,” said Hansen, “So I’ve been able to watch, learn from them, and get guidance counseling from them as well.”

By being a part of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Hansen was introduced to girls wrestling through a teammate. Having heard about the opportunity to coach the first ever women’s wrestling team at Millard North, Hansen knew she had to try. After several interviews later, Hasen was given the position.. 

Despite Hansen not having a history in wrestling, she is determined to push these girls to be their best. She wants to see these girls improve their own skills over the course of the 16 week season and become more strong willed and determined individuals than they already are.

“So I feel very fortunate that I have such a good support system for taking on girls wrestling for the first season,” said Hansen. 

Having been introduced to the sport through the school’s advertisement and recommendations from fellow wrestlers, sophomore Ryleigh Eckles is making the choice in joining MN’s first ever girls wrestling team.

“It is incredible that us girls can say that we are our school’s first ever girls wrestling team,” Eckles said. “Hopefully it will inspire others to make this a popular girls sport.”

Due to the lack of girls divisions in wrestling, several wrestlers had to join the boys wrestling team throughout their time in the sport.
For example, freshman Kloee Mitchman has been wrestling for over three years, but had been wrestling with the Kiewit Middle School’s boys wrestling team due to the fact that there is no girls wrestling team. 

“Wrestling with character is a club I wrestled with, for a little bit off and on,” said Mitchmn, “and then at Kiewit for a year.”  

Despite the fact that the boys she had wrestled with previously had been accepting of her and her goals, that does not mean she hasn’t had backlash.

“I’ve gotten told that oh girls shouldn’t be wrestling, but also proving them wrong in a match. It’s just incredible,” said Mitchman. 

Even though success isn’t guaranteed, the girls want much more out of this season than a state title. These girls are aiming for something more impactful: to prove that girls can wrestle too. 

“It is a male dominated sport, that is true, but times are changing and I’m excited to be part of that change,” said Lesser. 

It is no secret that wrestling has been a male dominated sport for many centuries, but these girls are willing to break that stereotype. The team may be small as it only has five girls currently registered to wrestle this season, but they hope that this season will make Millard North history. 

The history these girls will leave is much beyond what they may think it is, setting the example that yes, girls can wrestle, for MN generations yet to come. 

“I think it is going to spread a positive message to people who may not think wrestling is a ‘women’s sport’ because if more girls decide to join the team and stick with it, it could convince many others that girls wrestling is an amazing opportunity to join,” said Eckles.

Wrestling to these girls is much more than just a sport. It is breaking the gender binary that the world puts them into.