Below are some frequently asked questions for both students and parents:
1. Do we practice with the boys wrestling team?
No. All of our practices and training sessions are for Girls only.
2. Do we compete against boys?
No. We only compete against other Girls Wrestling Teams. There are some tournaments we will attend where boys will be wrestling at the same time, but we will only be competing against girls in the girls' division.
3. How will girls wrestling benefit my daughter?
First, wrestlers internalize a positive body image that is strong, healthy, and fit. Thru positive reinforcement and improvement, they gain self- confidence.
Second, wrestlers join a sisterhood as they form bonds like no other sport--this is from the camaraderie they develop (with both teammates and opponents) thru sharing hardships in training. Those bonds of trust help you make friends for life.
4. What do girls wear when they compete and practice?
In competition, Girls can wear either a women's cut wrestling singlet (its higher on the chest) or fight shirt and fight shorts. We always wear a headgear to protect our ears. You can purchase and wear knee pads to protect your knees.
In practice, Girls wear tights and/or shorts and a T-Shirt.
5. How would you wear your hair during practice and competition?
The best way is for girls to wear their hair in a braid or a tight ponytail. The headgear helps keep it in place. If you have bangs, your headgear will help keep them back.
6. What kind of shoes will I need?
You will need to get a pair of wrestling shoes. Many brands make them including Asics, Nike, Adidas, and Rudis. There are many 'Women's Wrestling Shoes' options listed at www.wrestlingmart.com. Below those options, there are several paragraphs about sizing and picking the right wrestling shoe for you.
7. Are there any tryouts in Girls Wrestling?
Possibly. High School Athletics in any sport carry obligations for 5-6 days a week during the regular season...and wrestling is not for the fainthearted. With the great success of our first official season and the size of our wrestling room, we can only keep so many athletes on our roster. The best way to make the team in 23-24 is to improve through participating in Spring Training, Summer Workouts, and the Preseason Training activities. Potential wrestlers will be evaluated against team need, last year's results, off-season and pre-season training, wrestling potential, and any tryout matches we hold. If necessary, we will have tryout matches on November 21st and 22nd, 2023.
Participation in interscholastic athletics at Cumberland Valley is voluntary and a privilege. Athletes need to remain academically eligible, in good standing (discipline), and meet all team rules and expectations.
8. When is the season?
Girls wrestling is a Winter Sport. During the regular season, mandatory practices begin on Monday, November 20th, 2023 and end after the PIAA State Tournament in Hershey on March 7-9, 2024.
9. Where and when to we practice?
During preseason (early September to mid-November), we will have workouts for those not involved in a fall sport 3 days a week, after school. Bring wrestling shoes, running shoes, and water bottle.
During the regular season we practice after school in the Auxiliary Gym of Eagle View Middle School from 3:45 to 6:00 PM. There is a Girls Locker Room with lockers that can be secured, with 6 individual, private shower stalls, across the hall from the Auxiliary Gym.
10. What are the weight classes for Girls Wrestling?
We use 13 weight classes in Pennsylvania in High School: 100-106-112-118-124-130-136-142-148-155-170-190-235. The PIAA Junior High Girls weight classes are: 71-77-83-89-96-103-110-117-125-135-148-165-200.
We will never ask a girl to cut weight....we don't even say those words. We want girls to wrestle at their natural weight, be healthy, hydrated, and strong, and 100% focused on becoming a better wrestler.
11. How many other teams are in Pennsylvania?
As of August 26th, 2023, there are well over 125 High Schools in Pennsylvania with an official girls wrestling team, including 38 in District 3. Girrls Wrestling will be a PIAA sport during the 2023-24 Season. The State Championship Tournament for girls will be at the Giant Center in Hershey, on March 7-9, 2024, alongside the AA and AAA Boys State Wrestling Championships.
12. Can my child do other sports and activities?
Yes, during the fall and/or spring seasons, we cheer on our athletes in other sports and activities. We've had wrestlers that participate in soccer, field hockey, water polo, cheerleading, track and field, lacrosse, softball, JROTC, rugby, and dance.
13. Can my child do other activities during the regular season?
We expect our wrestlers to have wrestling as their first extracurricular commitment for the duration of the regular season. Wrestling in Pennsylvania is competitive at every level, and it takes much hard work to be ready to compete safely and at a high level. We will treat all athletes on a case-by-case basis. However, there are standards for practice attendance to remain in good standing on the team, and there are very limited exceptions for what constitutes an excused absence from practice or competition for another activity (likely once a month, and not at all in February or March). In all cases of attendance conflicts, speak with Coach Seagreaves, the earlier the better. Good communication is the key.
14. Does the Girls Wrestling Team have access to the School Athletic Trainers?
YES! As an official school sport, every athlete on our squad will benefit from the facilities and treatment of the High School Athletic Training Room and our first-class athletic training staff, just like any other official sport at Cumberland Valley High School. In the case of an injury, an athlete's first stop should be the athletic training room at the high school.
15. Are there women's wrestling teams in college?
YES! There are over 150 women's collegiate wrestling programs nationwide, including 11 right here in Pennsylvania: Gannon University, East Stroudsburg, Lock Haven, Delaware Valley, Alvernia, Ursinus, York, and Cedar Crest, Lackawanna JC, Misericordia, and Penn State-Harrisburg. Women in college wrestle what is called "Freestyle," the style of wrestling that is done in the Olympics and other international competitions.