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WRESTLING
'Hopefully, this is the catalyst': Women of Ironman brings girls wrestling to big stage
Michael Leonard
Akron Beacon Journal
Walsh Jesuit coach Clint Musser knows high school girls wrestling in Ohio is just starting to roll.
"I think people are just having a hard time figuring out how do we get girls wrestling going," Musser said. "Really, you just need to throw the ball out there. Every time a state has sponsored the sport … the numbers just mushroom.
"Hopefully, this is the catalyst for everybody in the the area to see the sport is the real thing, it's legit and there's a ton of interest in it."
The catalyst Musser to which referred is the inaugural Women of Ironman Tournament, which opened Saturday at Walsh Jesuit.
Like its male counterpart, the Women of Ironman welcomed some of the best high school programs in the country. The chance to wrestle at the prestigious season opener was huge for local wrestlers.
"I remember coming coming to the Ironman when I was little with my dad," said Manchester's Jaydyn McKinney. "I never thought I was going to get a chance to wrestle here. It's like the same thing with The Schott [Schottenstein Center]. It's the tournament you want to wrestle."
"I think it's really awesome that we have one, and I'm proud to be a part of it," said Northwest's Madelyn Begert. "I just want to make it Day 2."
Five Greater Akron wrestlers reached Day 2 as part of Sunday's semifinals.
McKinney (135 pounds), Walsh's Bella Ndinga Mbappé (120) and Chippewa's Kayla Moroschan (120) and Gabi Gartin (125) all advanced to the semifinals. Northwest's Morgan Holling (190) will wrestle in the consolation semifinals.
Holling earned her Sunday spot by beating her drill partner — Massillon's Katrina Bolen — by pin in the consolation bracket. Bolen, Begert (115) and Chippewa's Olivia Johnson (145) all finished eighth Saturday.
Northwest had the largest local team at Ironman with five wrestlers. Coach Art Kallai, whose family has helped run the Ironman for years, said he's excited to be in on the ground floor.
"I feels great. It's awesome to see this sport growing the way that it is," Kallai said. "I think we had one girl at the start of last year. It's just awesome to see the girls get interested in this. I see a lot of youth girls here and junior high. It's just awesome to see how big this sport has gotten in a few years."
Kallai also said respect for the girls is growing among Northwest's male wrestlers.
"It's a lot different this year," he said. "Last year, they didn't like it so much, because they're used to all the coaches' attention going to them. This year … they're all helping out the girls. They're helping out the new kids more."
Now coaches can lead their sons and daughters to the mat. That's part of what led Musser back to Walsh, as the former All-American came in due to family ties.
"My daughter is wrestling," Musser said. "That's how I got into the girls wrestling world, and I helped start a girls club here. Bella [Mbappé] came to the club and instantly was a leader. She really didn't have many options to go to high school, so I felt we needed to fix that. I am proud to start a girls wrestling program at Walsh."
College wrestling recruiting looms as a large part of the Ironman. The number of college coaches mat-side Saturday showed the same is true for the girls.
Mount Union women's wrestling coach Clay Wenger said he was scoping the field for recruits, as the Purple Raiders will open their women's program next year.
"I'm excited to watch this weekend," Wenger said. "It's exciting for wrestling, and these girls have done a great job building it. As a college coach, I'm grateful to be here to watch some of these girls and try to get them to Mount.
Wenger knows the Ironman's prestige well. The former Wadsworth standout wrestled and coached for his alma mater before taking the college job.
"The Ironman is a great occasion, as it always has been, but to get the women down here is awesome," he said. "Being new to the community of women's wrestling, they all support each other. It's a very tight-knit group. They've grown the sport tremendously and quickly."
'Hopefully, this is the catalyst': Women of Ironman brings girls wrestling to big stage
Michael Leonard
Akron Beacon Journal
Walsh Jesuit coach Clint Musser knows high school girls wrestling in Ohio is just starting to roll.
"I think people are just having a hard time figuring out how do we get girls wrestling going," Musser said. "Really, you just need to throw the ball out there. Every time a state has sponsored the sport … the numbers just mushroom.
"Hopefully, this is the catalyst for everybody in the the area to see the sport is the real thing, it's legit and there's a ton of interest in it."
The catalyst Musser to which referred is the inaugural Women of Ironman Tournament, which opened Saturday at Walsh Jesuit.
Like its male counterpart, the Women of Ironman welcomed some of the best high school programs in the country. The chance to wrestle at the prestigious season opener was huge for local wrestlers.
"I remember coming coming to the Ironman when I was little with my dad," said Manchester's Jaydyn McKinney. "I never thought I was going to get a chance to wrestle here. It's like the same thing with The Schott [Schottenstein Center]. It's the tournament you want to wrestle."
"I think it's really awesome that we have one, and I'm proud to be a part of it," said Northwest's Madelyn Begert. "I just want to make it Day 2."
Five Greater Akron wrestlers reached Day 2 as part of Sunday's semifinals.
McKinney (135 pounds), Walsh's Bella Ndinga Mbappé (120) and Chippewa's Kayla Moroschan (120) and Gabi Gartin (125) all advanced to the semifinals. Northwest's Morgan Holling (190) will wrestle in the consolation semifinals.
Holling earned her Sunday spot by beating her drill partner — Massillon's Katrina Bolen — by pin in the consolation bracket. Bolen, Begert (115) and Chippewa's Olivia Johnson (145) all finished eighth Saturday.
Northwest had the largest local team at Ironman with five wrestlers. Coach Art Kallai, whose family has helped run the Ironman for years, said he's excited to be in on the ground floor.
"I feels great. It's awesome to see this sport growing the way that it is," Kallai said. "I think we had one girl at the start of last year. It's just awesome to see the girls get interested in this. I see a lot of youth girls here and junior high. It's just awesome to see how big this sport has gotten in a few years."
Kallai also said respect for the girls is growing among Northwest's male wrestlers.
"It's a lot different this year," he said. "Last year, they didn't like it so much, because they're used to all the coaches' attention going to them. This year … they're all helping out the girls. They're helping out the new kids more."
Now coaches can lead their sons and daughters to the mat. That's part of what led Musser back to Walsh, as the former All-American came in due to family ties.
"My daughter is wrestling," Musser said. "That's how I got into the girls wrestling world, and I helped start a girls club here. Bella [Mbappé] came to the club and instantly was a leader. She really didn't have many options to go to high school, so I felt we needed to fix that. I am proud to start a girls wrestling program at Walsh."
College wrestling recruiting looms as a large part of the Ironman. The number of college coaches mat-side Saturday showed the same is true for the girls.
Mount Union women's wrestling coach Clay Wenger said he was scoping the field for recruits, as the Purple Raiders will open their women's program next year.
"I'm excited to watch this weekend," Wenger said. "It's exciting for wrestling, and these girls have done a great job building it. As a college coach, I'm grateful to be here to watch some of these girls and try to get them to Mount.
Wenger knows the Ironman's prestige well. The former Wadsworth standout wrestled and coached for his alma mater before taking the college job.
"The Ironman is a great occasion, as it always has been, but to get the women down here is awesome," he said. "Being new to the community of women's wrestling, they all support each other. It's a very tight-knit group. They've grown the sport tremendously and quickly."