Girls’ high school wrestling is on the rise.

For the past five years, it has been the fastest growing high school sport in the country. Much like the national statistics, Pennsylvania high school wrestling has experienced a 100% growth of girls on high school boys’ teams in the past five years.

All 12 PIAA district areas have girls wrestling within their area schools.

While there are 23 state high school associations sanctioning a girls wrestling state championship, Pennsylvania does not yet have an official state tournament and has not sanctioned girls wrestling as a sport.

The Pennsylvania Girls High School Wrestling Task Force is working to increase opportunities for girls wrestling in the state.

Brooke Zumas, a wrestling assistant coach at Parkland High School, was one of the moderators for the PA Girls Wrestling Virtual Come Try-It event on Tuesday night.

Zumas, who is also a member of the Task Force, is one of the many people working to get girls’ wrestling recognized as an official sport in Pennsylvania.

“We are working toward that because the number of girls wrestling in Pennsylvania is growing every year,” she said. “More and more girls are joining elementary, middle and high school teams. And there are already girls wrestling in every single area of this state.”

The task force is supported by local and national organizations, including Wrestle Like a Girl, Pennsylvania USA Wrestling, National Wrestling Coaches Association, PA Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, National High School Coaches Association, and Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association.

For Tela Bacher, a 2004 Women’s Wrestling Olympian who moderated the event with Zumas, the opportunity to showcase where the sport is going was a chance she couldn’t pass up.

“At a time when the participation for youth sports is declining, girls wrestling has gone against the trend,” Bacher said. “Wrestling team participation among high school girls has grown for 28 consecutive years, and now there are nearly 30,000 high school girls across the nation that wrestle. There are currently 24 high school state associations that have sanctioned state tournaments, and the number continues to grow.

“In addition to the growth at the high school level, there are colleges that continue to add girls programs at an accelerated pace each year. There are now over 75 varsity college women’s wrestling programs that are affiliated with the NCAA, NAIA and junior college programs, which means there are a lot of opportunities for girls, through the sport of wrestling, to get a college education.”

And Bacher was at the forefront as the sport debuted on the grandest stage, a status she is proud to help it maintain.

“At the Olympic Games, women’s wrestling has been a part of competition since 2004, when I went. The U.S. has climbed the ladder of success, and is now one of the top powers in the world of women’s wrestling. Our team has won gold, silver and bronze medals, both at the Olympics and at world championships.

“USA Wrestling, the governing body for the Olympic sports, has seen more than 20 straight years of increased girls’ and women’s memberships, meaning youth through high performance athletes.”

The hour-plus long event, designed for girls of all ages interested in learning more about the sport, also featured a handful of current Pennsylvania girls wrestlers’ testimonials and a 20-minute workout led by Sara McMann, 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist in Women’s Wrestling, UFC Title Contender and Lock Haven University graduate.

“I tell our girls all the time, people in this sport will respect you just for doing it,” said Zumas. “Just for wrestling and trying your best.

“You do not need to win; you do not need to show up on the first day and feel like you need to know everything. People will have your back just because you’re a part of this sport, and a part of that family. I hope to see all of you next year around this date as a part of that family.”

The event also featured special guest Tamyra Mensah-Stock, the 2019 World Champion and 2019 USA Wrestling Women’s Wrestler of the Year, who touted the bonds she has made in the sport over any individual titles she has won.

“This is a tight-knit circle,” she said. “Even though it’s the fastest growing sport, it’s also very much a small circle, and these bonds are just phenomenal.

“When you join this sport, you’re going to be a part of a family.”

Mensah-Stock recalled being bullied during her days in track and field and not recognizing it.

It was wrestling that helped her find a voice and grow her self-confidence.

“It was amazing,” she said. “Wrestling just definitely creates those lifelong bonds. Of course you have your friends outside of wrestling … but wrestling makes you feel loved.”

More than the incredible accomplishments and impressive accolades the speakers presented, that was the message Zumas wanted to deliver.

“For all the new girls that are here tonight, remember that the sport is open to anyone and everyone,” said Zumas. “Any age, whatever you look like, you’re perfect for wrestling.

“Next year, myself and all the girls that were on will be at tournaments around the state, and we would absolutely love to see all of you. Wrestling is like a family. You will make friends for life, and even if we’re on separate teams, we all will be so excited that you started wrestling, and we would support you in any way that we can.”