Team Insight

TEAM WRESTLING A c cording to NFHS, boys' partici- pants reached 291,874 for the 2023-24 school year, climbing 17.9 percent since in 2018-19, the last school year prior to the pandemic, and reaching levels not seen since the eighties. Participation on the boy's side at high schools peaked at around 350,000 in the mid-seven- ties before the cancellation of some wrestling programs at the college level, blamed on the enactment of Title IX, trickled down to impact participation at high schools. e National Wrestling Coaches Association has claimed 171 collegiate programs were eliminated due to the effects of Title IX. Other factors seen supporting wrestling overall include the expansion of youth wres- tling tournaments and that wrestling tends to more affordable than several other team sports with reasonable registration fees and no need for expensive equipment. Chad Clark, SVP at Cliff Keen Athletic, believes girls are looking for "real opportunity to compete" and on the boys' side, Clark be- lieves the recent uptick may be tied to many high school football coaches realizing that wrestling is beneficial for players, particularly for lineman. e popularity of UFC he sees also helping recruit boys to the sport with the top MMA fighters typically coming from a wrestling background. However, Clark believes boys are attracted to the sport for similar reasons as girls, including the lessons wrestling teaches around discipline and goal setting that are being more valued by parents as well. "e virtues of wrestling are second to none," he explains. "You will not find another sport in this on this planet, in my opinion, that really teaches you life's virtues better than the sport of wrestling. Discipline, accountability, stick- to-itiveness — just that drive. ese are virtues that will carry you through life." Dealers Go To The Mat Despite heightened competition against online sellers and other challenges, team dealers are positioning themselves to benefit from the explosive growth in girls' wrestling as well as the more recent uptick on the boy's side. e Locker Room in Omaha, NE, is among the dealers finding a bigger growth opportunity in wrestling overall aer girls wrestling was sanctioned as a sport by the state of Nevada in 2021. e sport was already popular with boys in the region. "Wrestling is big in our state," says Mitch McCann, VP–sales and store manager. "Our state tournament has some of the best attendance numbers in the country. Our boys' numbers have been consistent and the girls continue to grow. Since they have been sanctioned as their own sport, we have seen more and more girls come out." One challenge, he points out, is limited vendor options to handle rush situations. "We really have a few different options for our customers and sometimes, during peak times of year, their lead times do not work with our needs, but we cannot supply other options to 26 • Team Insight ~ January/February 2025 teaminsightmag.com PINTEREST Powered by girls' wrestling ranking as the fastest-growing high school sport in participation in the U.S. – but also by more boys taking to the mat – the wrestling business for team dealers is on the upswing. For dealers, the major growth opportunity is serving the new and expanding girls' wrestling programs, including supporting demand for female-specific gear and tastes. However, the growth in girls' wrestling is also believed to be fueling an uptick in participation in boys' wrestling. WRESTLING'S IMPROBABLE COMEBACK STORY CONTINUES AT MANY LEVELS FOR TEAM DEALERS. BY TOM RYAN Photos: Cliff Keen

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