On any given day after school, you will find the three Taylor girls — Lilly, Jovi and Kenzlee — practicing the sport that fuels their passion. And their parents are managing a hectic school and sports schedule that they wouldn’t trade for the world.
Youth wrestling has enjoyed a major boom in Western Pennsylvania since 2022. For families in the wrestling world, schedules are packed and dedication is strong. Many organizations — with kids even as young as 3 — require practices four times per week and weekend tournaments. The level of commitment, and the rewards, are high.
Wrestling is a lifestyle, and one that leaves a lasting mark on the kids and families who participate. Parents, coaches and even the kids themselves highlight the character development that happens as a result of this level of dedication to the sport they love.
Take it from the Taylor family. Their unlikely ring leader, Kenzlee — just 4 years old at the time — began her wrestling career after watching her older cousin at tournaments. Her parents noticed that her personality and energy would be a great fit for the sport. From there, her older sisters caught the wrestling bug as well and are now competing in the youth and high school levels.
And there are many more families like the Taylors who have become “wrestling families,” dedicating their free time and energy to a sport they’ve only recently grown to love.
Ushering in Girl Power
To understand the reason for the wrestling boom, you simply need to look back to one pivotal decision made less than three years ago. On July 2, 2023, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) made the unanimous decision to officially sanction girls wrestling in Pennsylvania. Becoming the 39th state to do so, Pennsylvania has seen a 200% increase in girls’ participation in the sport.
When asked about this impressive increase in girls wrestling, Amanda Taylor says, “In the past, it was difficult for girls to compete against boys, and many didn’t feel comfortable trying, or weren’t always encouraged to. Now that more schools are offering girls teams, more girls are stepping out onto the mat. As those opportunities continue to grow, the sport will continue to grow with them.”
The opportunities for girls and women in wrestling continue to expand, as the NCAA just hosted the inaugural Women’s Wrestling Championship in March. Now sanctioned by the NCAA, the PIAA, and with the number of dedicated high schools teams on the rise, wrestling will only continue to be a path loaded with opportunities for young women.
And it’s not just the girls who benefit from the boom. Amanda Taylor adds, “My girls have formed deep connections with their teammates, both boys and girls. It feels like more than a team; it truly feels like a family.”
3 Key Values
Whether their children are girls or boys, 4 years old or seniors in high school, there is a trend in the values parents see wrestling instilling in their kids. This trend can be best summed up as:
- Dedication
- Sportsmanship
- Confidence
Dedication: Wrestling requires high levels of persistence and practice, with most participants on the mat at least 4 days per week outside of school. Carter Haughey (14) is hugely dedicated to wrestling because “It teaches you that through hard work anything is possible. Even when you fail there are valuable lessons learned in those failures that you learn from to make you a better wrestler. Wrestling teaches personal accountability since it isn’t a team sport. Everything falls on you, good or bad, success or failure.”
In addition to the physical demands on the mat, wrestling requires a high level of dedication off the mat. Athletes are learning nutrition, paying attention to what fuels their body for optimal performance from a young age. “I make healthy choices when it comes to my diet to ensure I maintain my weight for matches and tournaments,” Carter says.
Kids are taking ownership of their health and laying a healthy foundation for their futures.
Sportsmanship: Youth wrestling does a great job of blending individual accountability and teamwork. Carter explains, “There are plenty of times where there may be kids from 10 different schools cheering on a kid that isn’t on their team because they have built friendships and respect for each other over the years of competing against each other. We all have a high level of respect for each other because no one really understands how much work goes into this sport other than the ones who compete in it.”
It is an individual sport, yet the bonds made in the wrestling community are as strong as any team sport. Kids cheer on each other’s successes while also offering support in the losses.
Confidence: The intense training regimen is an excellent foundation for confidence. Kids are showing up for themselves, keeping the promises they made and seeing results of their hard work. This helps them learn that they can achieve what they put their mind to.
Amanda Taylor will be the first to tell you about the positive influence the sport has had on her daughters. “The biggest lessons are discipline, mental toughness and goal setting. Wrestling teaches you how to push through challenges, set goals and work consistently toward them, even when it’s hard.” An invaluable lesson for young boys and girls alike.
A Family Affair
In both the Taylor and Haughey families, it’s clear that wrestling has become a family affair. While wrestling is an individual sport, the positive effects ripple into the larger family system. From continuing a legacy of parents who wrestled when they were young to seeing family members stand in the corner of every match, wrestling sets the stage for memories that will hold well beyond childhood. These bonding moments prove powerful for athletes and parents alike.
Carter Haughey explains, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without [my parents]. I am grateful for them for continuing to push me towards success and being my biggest supporters.”
Amanda Taylor notices the great impact wrestling has had on her girls, and her family as a whole. “It has brought us closer together, taught our girls resilience and confidence and surrounded us with an incredible community. We are proud of the strength it has built in them, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Wrestling has shaped who they are becoming, and for that, we’re very grateful”.
The Future is Bright
In addition to character building, wrestling sets the stage for future opportunities for its athletes. The Taylors’ oldest daughter, Lilly, is later in her high school career and hopes to take the strength, confidence and discipline wrestling has taught her into her college career.
Carter has his eyes set on a scholarship to a Division I college team, and even representing his country in the Olympics.
Coach Kevin Flaherty of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, sees firsthand how wrestling helps form athletes into the best version of themselves. Most notably, Flaherty sees how being teachable might just be the greatest asset instilled in these athletes.
“When you’re teachable, you can do anything. Those are the kids who go the furthest. And everyone can be teachable.” Flaherty believes losses can actually be one of the greatest gifts for his athletes, as long as they are open to feedback and as long as they stay teachable.
Teachability, dedication, sportsmanship and confidence all form into a powerful sports package that more and more families are enjoying.
Whether their wrestling careers take them to college, the Olympics or their neighborhood weekend tournament, athletes can be sure they’ll walk away with character traits that serve them for many years to come.
