Girls Wrestling Surges in Nebraska, Highlighted by Historic State Tournament
In an unprecedented rise, girls wrestling has become the fastest growing high school sport in Nebraska over the past four years, as reported by the Nebraska School Activities Association. This burgeoning interest is further underscored by the upcoming state tournament, a landmark event marking the first standalone girls wrestling championship at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.
Tuesday’s state tournament is set to showcase the talent and dedication of female wrestlers across the state. Among those competing is Bristol Prado, a sophomore from Chadron High School, who shared her journey into the sport despite initial skepticism from her family.
Reflecting on her decision to wrestle, Prado recalled, “I’m not gonna lie, my grandpa wasn’t really a big fan of me wrestling. He didn’t think I was gonna stick it out. I don’t think he thought I was tough enough,” she said. “But here I am, four years later, and I think he’s really proud of me and really proud of how much I’ve opened up.”
Her grandfather, Ed Planansky, who once doubted the longevity of her commitment, is now a staunch supporter of girls wrestling. He recounted a moment at a recent competition that highlighted the growing respect for female athletes in the sport. “The girls wrestled the first duel. Then the announcer said, ‘Now for the main event, the boys will wrestle.’ I wanted to go over and strangle him,” Planansky expressed. “The girls, their skills are improving dramatically.”
Since girls wrestling was officially sanctioned in 2021, participation has surged by 200%. Prado emphasized the importance of this growth, particularly in shifting perceptions about women’s involvement in wrestling. “I think that’s a big part of it,” she stated. “We can show older generations that might have more of a negative opinion on women’s wrestling, that we’re resilient, we’re strong, and we belong here.”
As Prado aims for the 120 lbs. state championship, her grandfather will be among her supporters, cheering her on. Her teammate, senior Addie Diers, reflects on the evolution of the sport, having experienced the transition firsthand during her six-year wrestling journey.
Diers shared her early experiences, saying, “I remember literally having a losing record all the way up throughout middle school, because I just wrestled boys all the time. I really enjoy having female wrestling around. It’s a big community. I deeply enjoy it.” This season, Diers boasts a 34-5 record and celebrated her 100th career win.
The commitment to growing girls wrestling in Nebraska is evident. Diers and her teammates recently traveled six hours to participate in a tournament in West Point, illustrating their dedication to expanding opportunities for female wrestlers in the region. “It’s kind of like we’re paving the way for western Nebraska teams to be able to come here and do this,” Diers noted.
Throughout the season, Chadron High has made several long journeys to compete, underscoring the team’s commitment to the sport and its growth across the state.
