When looking for a winter sport, sophomore Jadyn Beeny decided to join the wrestling team. The wrestling team is made up of all males, making Beeny the only female on the team. 

This isn’t the first time a female has joined the wrestling team, as it has happened once in the past 20 years. Girls joining wrestling is becoming more common. According to SanctionPA, as of the 2021-2022 season, there were over 550 females competing in wrestling at PIAA high schools. 

This is Beeny’s first year participating in wrestling. She joined the team knowing her brother had a love for wrestling, and she figured she would enjoy being on the team, as well since he did. 

“This is pretty much completely new. I thought it would be a good experience and something worthwhile. My brother used to wrestle, and he loved it a lot. I thought that since he loved it then I could probably get by,” Beeny said. 

According to head coach Joel Gilbert, her teammates treat her the same as everyone else on the team. 

“I think they treat her as a teammate, and that’s what we expected so everybody’s on equal ground,” Gilbert said.

Senior Caleb Fasick loves to see females getting involved with the sport and wishes the sport would be sanctioned in Pennsylvania. According to Sanction PA, sanctioning the sport of girls’ wrestling would provide an opportunity for girls in wrestling to become a PIAA State Champion as well as creating an even playing field. They are currently at 86 out of 100 teams needed. 

“I think it’s a wonderful thing, the sport of girls’ wrestling deserves much more recognition and attention than it gets. Over my numerous years of wrestling for different clubs, I have trained with many girls and truly believe the sport is overlooked and should be sanctioned in Pennsylvania,” Fasick said. 

Beeny thinks being one of the few females who wrestle in the state will not have an affect on her ability to wrestle. She has hope she will overcome all adversity that may come her way. 

“I think with a lot of time and effort, I can be just as good as anybody else. I’m not at that level right now, but when it comes to it mind over matter, I think I’ll persevere and win,” Beeny said. 

Beeny believes gender shouldn’t have an effect on what sports students should be allowed to participate in. She hopes other girls can overcome the obstacles and realize the fun she has while doing it. 

“It’s okay to be a girl and do boy things. I used to play football, and I was the only girl doing that. I think it’s good for other girls to see other people doing stuff and know that it’s okay to have an interest in these kinds of things, To go out and do them, and you don’t always have to be great because I’m not good. I’m not good at all, but with a lot of hard work, I’m going to get to a certain level I want to be at. I want to continue that. I want other girls to look at me and want to do the same,” Beeny said. 

“It’s no different than having anyone [else] on the team. We treat everybody the same. We’re all equal. She has to run the same amount as everybody else. She has to do all the workouts as much as everybody else and expectations do not change,” Gilbert said.

Fasick believes having a female on the team adds a different dynamic to the team, and the guys really like having her on as a teammate.

“It adds a different dynamic to the team. I know a lot of us really enjoy cheering for Beeny. We try to look out for her, and she is a lot of fun to have on the team. I think I probably look out for Beeny more than I do some of my other teammates.  I try to make sure she’s doing good and is having a fun time with the sport,” Fasick said.

Beeny believes wrestling can be a sport made for anyone, and it’s a good experience to have. 

“I would recommend that other girls join because it really is worth the experience and friends you make,” Beeny said.

While some teammates believe that Beeny may be at a disadvantage, others hope to see her win at least a few matches. 

“She is definitely at a disadvantage of being the only girl on the team just because we don’t always have people for her to practice with, but we try to give her the best options possible. I would like to see Beeny win a couple matches. I think that would be awesome,” Fasick said. 

Some days are harder than others for Beeny, but she knows once she gets through it, she’ll be happy she’s on the team and everything she’s done so far. 

“I wake up, and I just don’t want to go to school. Most days you kind of just wake up and you’re really sore, but I think when I get through it, I’ll be happy that I did and it’s over. I go to bed, and I made it through,” Beeny said. 

Gilbert wishes for her to go up against another girl because he wants to see her ability and strengths against her own gender. 

“If she wrestles another girl, I’m curious to see how she does. I’m not really sure we know what her technique is or what she can and can’t do. That’s always hard to judge when she’s wrestling guys because they’re just so much physically stronger than she is,” Gilbert said.