In their first year, the girls’ wrestling and gymnastics teams have already made an impression, bringing both excitement and challenges for them. The wrestling team, created a new team, with a coach stepping up to help prove the girls could do it. The gymnastics team has also stepped up in their sport. However, the journey hasn’t been too easy; both teams have faced ups and downs. Still, the benefits of these programs, including girl empowerment, allows their dedication to shine through, marking a promising start to what could be a lasting legacy for both teams.
The girls gymnastics team consists of five girls, Bell Orczeck (Jr.), Ava Hickman (So.), Faith Orczeck (Fr.), Paige Hill (Fr.), Laila Borgo (Fr.). Although the girls don’t have a gym to practice in at the high school, they still practice frequently throughout the season at Ultimate and the YMCA. Bell, a junior on the team, said “A pro of high school gymnastics is definitely the environment and friendships that you form from it.” The rest of the team would agree as they are all close and share the same spirit and passion to do this sport. When there are pros, there have to be cons. Since the girls don’t all practice in the same facility, Bell stated, “I would say a con is we don’t get to practice as a team to build up the connections as good as they could be.”
The girls wrestling team has a strong standing team with five girls as well, Samara Larson (Jr.), Miranda Etling (So.), Leighton Engler (Fr.), Anna Morrison (Fr.), Teagan Zola (Fr.). The girls don’t have their own practice area so they practice on the mats alongside with the boys, with the help of the boys wrestling coach. For these girls, wrestling is their passion and what they strive to do. Larson, a junior on the team said, “Practicing with the boys was a positive; both the coaches and the boys taught us a lot throughout the season since they were all more experienced than us.”
On the other hand Zola, a freshman stated, “Wrestling with the boys was a con because they are boys’…’another con is we didn’t have our own coach as a girls team.” Although she sees cons, her pros made it something to work harder for, “A pro was we got good practices ins and it made us stronger because it pushed us’…’ The boys team coaches were basically our play in the role of a coach, and they taught us a lot.” These girls had a good season that pushed them to be their best.
As these teams start something new, they are creating positive traditions for female sports at Hempfield Area High School.