Increasing athletes only makes you work harder for your spot.

“I think it has made the team stronger. It’s good for the team to grow not just in numbers but grow as a team and building each other up,” junior wrestler Chloe Spears said.

The girls’ wrestling team has seen a significant increase in athletes over the past four years.

“I would say about 40 (now),” senior wrestler Caylee Headings said. “When I started as a freshman, we had six.”

Derby has only had their girl’s wrestling program for six years.

“Before KSHSAA (Kansas State High Schools Activities Association) made girls wrestling an official sport, most girls would be wrestling kids club, competing against other girls as well as men,” junior wrestler Brooke Downs said.

The urge for girls’ wrestling has spread beyond high school to middle school and clubs.

“The girls program is doing great,” Headings said. “Girls wrestling is growing so much not only in high school but now in middle school and club.”

In town, we have the Derby Wrestling Club, which offers club wrestling for children under six and seniors in high school.

“The Derby Wrestling Club has grown tremendously, especially in the girls wrestling numbers,” Downs said. “Year after year, we continue to see more girls coming out for the sport anywhere from ages 5 to 14.”

For years, when Downs was starting, she would have to compete against men.

“When I was younger and first started wrestling, often there was not enough girls to compete against, so I would be forced to wrestle the guys up until a few years later,” Downs said.

Now, she practices against them just for the added push.

“I will often practice with one of the guys or with a coach to help give myself that extra challenge,” Downs said.

Another challenge that comes with more athletes joining is trying to keep or get a spot.

“I think the increase of girls has made me a little bit more competitive because I have to fight for my spot,” Spears said.

Some love the increase in competition.

“The increase of girls competing in the sport has made me love the sport more and more,” Downs said. “Having been one of Derby’s first girls and having wrestled since before it was an official sport in the state, I love seeing just how far the sport has come.”