LA PLATA, Md. – In a testament to the growing popularity of girls wrestling, La Plata High School’s team dominated the Francis Scott Key Girl’s Wrestling Holiday Showcase, securing first place with 143.5 points and demonstrating how far the sport has come since the program’s humble beginnings.
The team, which started with just five members two years ago, has more than tripled in size to 16 wrestlers. Their success at the December 28 tournament, which featured 20 teams, highlighted both individual talent and the program’s rapid development.
Credit: Charles County Public Schools
“It’s a lot of mental stuff,” said senior Oriana Boling, who clinched first place in the 130-pound weight class. “I’d say it’s more mental than physical.” Boling, who began as the boys team’s statistician, will continue her wrestling career at Frostburg State University while pursuing a criminal justice degree.
The tournament showcased multiple La Plata victories, with senior Daisy Rojas winning the 155-pound class and junior Adriana Hernandez claiming the 145-pound division. Madison Rich secured second place in the 130-pound class, while freshmen Grace Immler and Kenadi Reeder earned third-place finishes in their respective weight classes.
Head coach John Pankhurst built the program by thinking outside the box, recruiting athletes from various sports backgrounds. “Almost all the kids on the team play a different sport,” Pankhurst said. “We promoted it to kids who play sports but want to try something different.”
This approach proved successful, attracting diverse talent like Rojas, a former cheerleader and track athlete, and Rich, who played lacrosse. Their transitions to wrestling exemplify the sport’s growing appeal across traditional athletic boundaries.
“It’s a male dominated sport, but girls can wrestle too,” said Rojas, who won a state championship in 2024 and will wrestle at Alvernia University while pursuing biology. She emphasizes wrestling’s broader benefits: “It’s a really good way to help with mental toughness, discipline and strategy.”
The growth extends beyond La Plata, with 38 female wrestlers now competing across Charles County Public Schools. This local expansion reflects national trends that began accelerating after women’s wrestling debuted at the 2004 Olympics.
Maryland has emerged as a notable contributor to the sport’s development. Rockville native Helen Maroulis has become a role model for young wrestlers, earning Olympic gold in 2016 and bronze medals in subsequent games. The state’s wrestling legacy was further enhanced when Montgomery County’s Nebi Tsarni received the 2024 Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
For newcomers like freshman Grace Immler, who previously played softball and volleyball, wrestling offers a unique athletic experience. “It’s a lot harder than it looks,” Immler said, “but it’s a team sport that’s also an independent sport. I think that’s my favorite part about it.”
The sport’s growth mirrors its national trajectory since Hawaii became the first state to recognize high school girls wrestling as an official sport in 1998. Team members now focus on recruiting and encouraging more girls to try the sport.
“Over the years, we have tried to recruit girls to try it and see if they like it,” Rich said, who will wrestle at McDaniel College while studying nursing. “And it’s also about people just encouraging girls to just do it.”
As the senior members prepare to graduate, they leave behind a thriving program that has broken barriers and created opportunities for future female athletes. Their success not only demonstrates the viability of girls wrestling programs but also suggests a bright future for the sport in Maryland high schools.
The team’s achievements at the Holiday Showcase represent more than just athletic victory – they symbolize the changing landscape of high school sports and the expanding opportunities for female athletes in traditionally male-dominated disciplines.
