I was first introduced to the sport of wrestling when I was a sophomore, by my younger sister. We both joined our highschool’s first ever girls wrestling team and integrated into a family of strong, supportive athletes. Since then, I have had a little over a year to develop a connection to wrestling that can not be explained in a singular word, rather, a couple of realizations. My first tournament was a blur of emotions because I was introduced to the wrestling basics just a few weeks prior and I only had three solid moves. This was something completely out of my comfort zone. But walking into the gymnasium and seeing all of those girls practicing gave me a sense of empowerment. They were strong and determined, just like me. They put themselves out there, even though for most of them it was also their first tournament. On the mat it may seem like just two athletes, yet it is so much more. Each is representing her team, her values, and her own personal strengths and weaknesses. Wrestling is about skill, practice, and perseverance. In my experience on the team, the first two of those things were limited for many of us. But the last one, perseverance, we all shared. Being in the beginning stages of this growing sport connected all of us as athletes. There was a different feeling about this competition compared to other sports I had played. We were all learning, all failing, and all succeeding together. As the season continued, I became more confident in my skills. I began setting goals for myself. Especially after I lost to a 6 year experienced wrestler. Which may sound ridiculous, but she inspired me. She had been wrestling before there were official sections for girls so she trained in the boys section. This gave her a sort of untouchable status in my mind. Since we wrestle in the same district, I have encountered her multiple times and every time I have lasted longer in a match. It's not a huge accomplishment, but it's an incremental growth. I have to remind myself of my small accomplishments to see how much I have grown since I began the sport. And it has only been a year, women’s wrestling has the unique opportunity to stand out by becoming a sport shaped by its players. What I have taken from these experiences is that wrestling is whatever you make it. And so far women’s wrestling means pushing yourself in a match but helping your opponent up the moment that 6 minute timer is finished. It means feeling like you can’t continue anymore but getting your legs under you anyways and trying to stand. It means challenging yourself and your teammates because you know you can succeed.