Wrestling has long been considered one of the most grueling and disciplined sports, demanding strength, agility, and mental toughness. As the sport gains traction at the high school level and beyond, girls’ wrestlers showcase the results of consistent hard work. In the last three years, an exciting shift has transformed the wrestling world. Girls are stepping onto the mat and making history. At the school, we have three senior girls. These girls stand out not just for their skill, but for their leadership, strength, and inspiration to the future generations of girls’ wrestlers.
One of the three seniors, Kiarra Churchill, played an instrumental role in the creation of the Girls Wrestling team at the school.
“My proudest moment is starting and creating the Girls Wrestling Team at HSE with Emily [Anderson] my sophomore year and developing my leadership.”
Before pursuing wrestling, she spent four years training in jiu jitsu and taekwondo. When she reached seventh grade, her father encouraged her to try something new.
“My dad forced me to try wrestling in seventh grade because he thought I would like it,” Churchill said.
She recalls one promise he made before tryouts:
“If you don’t like it after 7th grade, you don’t have to do it anymore,” her dad said.
She enjoyed it so much at that age that she decided to continue through eighth grade and into high school. Since she has been wrestling since middle school, she talks about one of her biggest challenges as a high school wrestler.
“My biggest challenge is feeling valued as a teammate with the guys,” Churchill said. “Even though I’ve wrestled with most of them since junior high, I’ve kind of been treated as a girl wrestler and not a wrestler, regardless of my skill and hard work on the mat.”
After graduation, she plans to continue wrestling in college and study in either Kinesiology or Neuroscience. As this season comes to a close, she is waiting to hear back from potential programs where she hopes to continue her wrestling career.
After a career ending injury in basketball, senior EJ Schults found her love for wrestling. Although this is only her second year wrestling, it has been her dream since eighth grade. Throughout her time on the team, her biggest accomplishment was going 3-0 in her first tournament, leading her to win her weight class.
The team’s bond is something she will never forget. Her favorite memories are the team sleepovers and hanging out outside of school. When asked to give advice to the underclassman, EJ said:
“Just go for it. A lot of things in life are going to be scary and you aren’t going to want to do them, but you have to.”
Over the summer, Shults signed with the Army National Guard. After graduation, she will leave for basic training in Texas and Oklahoma. Once basic training is over, she is planning to study environmental science while going through the process of becoming a firefighter. She hopes to attend the University of California, Riverside.
First year senior, Brooke Parnin, was inspired by her friends’ love for wrestling which led her to join the team her senior year. Although this is her first year, she had been wanting to tryout since freshman year. Her proudest moment was working up the courage to join the team.
“If there’s something you want to do, just do it because you will regret it if you don’t.” Parnin said.
Not only does Parnin exhibit remarkable strength as a wrestler, but she also demonstrates courage by joining the team. After graduation, Parnin plans on going to Purdue University to study veterinary medicine. She eventually wants to move to Tennessee to open her own clinic.
As their season has ended, these girls worked hard to lead the team while balancing academics and preparation for their future plans. These athletes are challenging stereotypes, setting records, and paving the way for the next generation of girls’ wrestlers.
