MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — In 2022, girls wrestling was sanctioned as an official sport by the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union.
It's also the fastest growing high school sport in the country, according to the Associated Press.
The sport is so popular, in fact, Marshalltown schools are adding more girls wrestling coaches to its staff.
When Genevieve Lantigua decided to go out for a sport her freshman year, she wanted to do something that could build strength.
"I was like 'Let me try wrestling,' because I was growing up to be strong,” Lantigua said. “I was like 'Let me try it out, maybe I can beat a few boys.'"
Girls wrestling became an official sport her sophomore year.
"We had a lot of girls that came out. We were surprised and really excited with how many girls were interested,” said Marshalltown Athletics and Activities Director Ryan Isgrig. “Our first year we had 12 girls out, and year two, we had about 20."
That increase in interest is now leading to an increase in coaching staff.
For the first two seasons, both boys and girls wrestling were coached by Head Coach Luke Cross.
"That's been the biggest problem is just trying to figure out, how do I solely as the head coach put my efforts into both programs equally, and the answer is you can't,” Cross said. “So, I’m really, really pleased we are taking the next step and adding a new coach."
The Marshalltown Community School Board recently approved two new positions to meet the increased demand: a head girls wrestling coach for the high school and one for the middle school.
"The fact that we're doing this now really makes me feel like the community is taking us very seriously and are really in big support," Lantigua said.
This year, Lantigua became Marshalltown’s first state qualifier in girls wrestling and another team member, senior Meya Roberts, will continue to hit the mat in college, wrestling for the Hawkeye Community College Redtails.
Both girls are proud to be inspiring future generations.
"I’ve noticed the support because there are a lot of girls that are looking up to us in the middle school area and it really inspires me every day and pushes me like, if they're watching us then they have someone to look up to, and I’m glad,” Roberts said.
Marshalltown is in the process of hiring those new coaches, who will join staff for the third official girls wrestling season in the 2024-2025 school year.