Northwestern's Sierra Chiesa competes with the boys (link)
- Thread starter BWWings
- Start date
Help me out here -- are you just saluting her for what she's doing, or are you implying that she's unique for what she's doing?
If it's the later, I'd note that somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 of the high school teams I reffed this season had 1 or more females on the team. If I expand things to JV, the number was well above 50%. If I expand things to middle schools, I don't think I reffed one team this year that didn't have multiple females on the team (though that's in duals. I also did some MS tournaments where a lot of schools were represented, and there were a lot of female competitors, but there were also some all-boys schools participating, so I guess they didn't have female contestants. In tournaments, unlike duals (or tri- or quad-meets), it's pretty rare for a ref to see the entire team all together, as we don't focus on them as a team unlike at duals or tri- or quad-meets). I'd also note that this isn't a new phenomenon. I know of a girl that's now graduated from college that started at a high school team for 3 or 4 years. She was the 1st girl I (as a ref) ever encountered on a varsity team. She really wanted to make it to States, and while she did well in Sectionals and Districts, she never placed top 3 in Regionals to make it to States. I'm pretty sure there have been females that have qualified for PA States.
If it's the later, I'd note that somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 of the high school teams I reffed this season had 1 or more females on the team. If I expand things to JV, the number was well above 50%. If I expand things to middle schools, I don't think I reffed one team this year that didn't have multiple females on the team (though that's in duals. I also did some MS tournaments where a lot of schools were represented, and there were a lot of female competitors, but there were also some all-boys schools participating, so I guess they didn't have female contestants. In tournaments, unlike duals (or tri- or quad-meets), it's pretty rare for a ref to see the entire team all together, as we don't focus on them as a team unlike at duals or tri- or quad-meets). I'd also note that this isn't a new phenomenon. I know of a girl that's now graduated from college that started at a high school team for 3 or 4 years. She was the 1st girl I (as a ref) ever encountered on a varsity team. She really wanted to make it to States, and while she did well in Sectionals and Districts, she never placed top 3 in Regionals to make it to States. I'm pretty sure there have been females that have qualified for PA States.
Pennsylvania now has 102 high schools with girls teams. My youngest son wrestled middle school last year and one of the teams they competed against had about 50% girl participation. Let me tell you, a few of those girls were very good. One of them beat one of our more accomplished, experienced boys. It was impressive.
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Just to clarify your statement a bit -- 102 districts/schools in PA have agreed to start a program. Many of those 102 schools do not currently have a program -- they've just committed to starting one.
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NW Sophomore Sierra Chiesa with historic win at the PIAA...
Sierra Chiesa with a historic PIAA victory (goerie.com)
Sierra Chiesa with a historic PIAA victory (goerie.com)