By Katherine Kelly, Reporter
The Vashon High School wrestling team has traditionally been made up of all boys, until now. Senior wrestler Paytra Gard has gone from managing the team to competing alongside the rest of the boys.
“It’s really different [to be the only girl on the wrestling team] because it’s weird not having another girl to hang out with and stuff,” said Gard. “But it’s also really fun, and I learn a lot from the boys. I like all the boys, and they’re fun to hangout with.”
Gard likes wrestling, and has for a while. She was the manager for the boys last year, but soon found she wanted in on the action.
Although she doesn’t expect to do very well because it is her first time ever wrestling, she is hoping to get a pin by the end of the season.
“Every team so far, or every boy wrestler, has seen a girl wrestler, or wrestled against a girl, so I don’t think it’s that shocking. It’s just different because Vashon hasn’t had a girl wrestler in a while,” said Gard.
Gard wrestles anyone, boys and girls. She also participates in “all girls” tournaments.
On the school’s athletic page, wrestling is listed as a boys sport, and has the title “Vashon Island Boys Wrestling,” even though the sport has participation from both genders.
“That doesn’t really surprise me because there’s not really any girl wrestlers,” said Gard, “but I do wish that there were a larger amount of girls that wanted to come out and try for the team. I think that it’s just intimidating, but since I’ve been around the sport for a while, I kinda knew what to expect, and that’s why I went into it.”
She knew what to expect from practice and tournaments from her time managing. She traveled with the boys in the past, so she knew what it was like to be around the boys.
“It’s a lot different when you’re actually out there practicing,” said Gard.
She used to just watch the boys practices, but now she can experience them for herself.
“I wanted the challenge, and it’s something new that not a lot of girls do,” said Gard. “That was intriguing to me. I also have loved watching the sport and wanted to do it.”
There are not a lot of girl wrestlers known on Vashon, but that is beginning to change.
“Everyone who told me to do it says ‘you’ll never regret it,’” said Gard.
She has a lot of support from the boys to try out the sport. Although Gard is a senior, she isn’t afraid to try a sport that she hasn’t participated before. The boys are accepting of her, and she feels supported by the team and the coaches.
Senior Cori Williams enjoys having a girl on the team. He thinks that it adds to the “family bonding” for the team and thinks that it adds to the positive environment.
“Having a girl on the team is awesome! Honestly, we don’t treat her any different during practice, so realistically it’s no different,” said Williams. “A wrestler is a wrestler, no matter what sex.”
The team is looking for getting more girls to join next year, and with Gard participating this year, the boys think that there will be a larger outcome of girls in upcoming seasons.
“Also, hopefully, having a girl back on the team will encourage more to show up next year,” said Williams.
Head coach Anders Blomgren is also very happy having Gard on the team.
“Having a girl on the team and having Peytra sometimes can be a different thing, but having Peytra on the team is great,” said Blomgren. “She works just as hard as everyone else, and she is excited to be out here.”
Gard took a leadership position over the summer, and organized training for the boys and herself.
“She helped organize off season training, which was great,” said Blomgren. “There are some logistical things that are sort of challenging, like weigh in procedures and having the locker room open.”
Since Gard has been around the boys in the past as their manager, there is not much of a change for the boys now that she is wrestling with them.
“Peytra was always here anyways as a manager, but having her around has definitely made the environment a little bit more positive, because she has such a positive attitude,” said Blomgren.
With Gard being involved in wrestling this year, the team looks like it has a bright future for girl wrestlers being more involved in the sport.
