Members of the Millbrook High School wrestling team pose for a picture in the mat room. | Photo by Christian Phillips
Story by Christian Phillips
Intro: “In an age when women are finally getting the respect they deserve, whether it be players or coaches, think Caitlyn Clark or Erin Matson, they’re still having to fight to play some sports…like here at Millbrook High School in Raleigh,, where it took athletes coming together, along with a helpful coach, to form a women’s wrestling team…unheard of in the state. But even once they had created the team, some problems still persisted.
Take Sot: Video of wrestling
That’s senior Ebony Mejia-Aguilar, one of sixteen wrestlers on the Millbrook High School women’s wrestling team.
Take Sot [Mejia-Aguilar]: “It means a lot to me, means a lot to me. When I started here, there was practically nothing for the women’s team. Having so many girls on the team really opened up how many matches we get, things that we can go to, and just titles that we have won. Having such a big team really opened up the gateway to being able to compete and win.”
And they’ve been winning both on the mat and administratively. Just this past year, the North Carolina High School Athletics Association officially sanctioned women’s wrestling.
While the Millbrook team has 16 female wrestlers, there’s still plenty of room for growth at other schools, according to senior Taylor St. Clair.
TAKE SOT [St. Clair]: “I mean, we’ve wrestled so many teams this year that had like one girl, or two girls, and it’s just been so insane that we have pretty much a full lineup, and double in some weight classes.”
TAKE SOT [St. Clair]: “Honestly, it sucks. Especially for that girl, I’m sure that she’s been through a lot, being on that team by herself. But, it also is unfortunate for us, because we don’t get experience, and we don’t get mat time.”
Scott Saby is the Millbrook High School wrestling coach. When he was a wrestler, women’s wrestling didn’t exist. but due to his efforts, the sport is growing rapidly at Millbrook.
TAKE SOT [Saby]: “It’s a team effort. Literally, so. Without the help of the assistant coaches that we have, it would not be as much fun. At this point for me, you definitely want to have success, and it’s gotta be worth your time and it’s gotta be fun, and the growth of girl’s wrestling has been really exciting”.
TAKE SOT [Saby]: “Girls wrestling or womens wrestling is an olympic sport. So it’s here. It’s about what we do with it. What opportunities are we going to create for the people that come in front of us, in this case, we’re talking more about the girls. 100%. The time is now, there’s no waiting anymore. We’re ready to roll it out to them.”
Reporting, I’m Christian Phillips
