Wrestling, once considered a sport exclusively for boys, has become one of the fastest growing sports for girls in America. Boy’s teams used to be the only option for girls who wanted to wrestle. However, thanks to the increasing number of girls competing in high school wrestling, it gives girls like Brayleigh Thompson and Jaeda Townsond of Madill High School an even playing field by competing with other girls rather than boys.
According to Coach Love, Madill Wrestling didn’t start in Madill until 1979. He has the photo proudly hanging up in his office. He noted that ten girls came out this year for wrestling but due to Covid there hasn’t been much participation.
Brayleigh and Jaeda started out as trainers for the Madill Wrestling Team. The girls attended an annual tournament last year called the Thrill of Madill with the wrestling team when another team with a couple of girls on their roster approached Madill asking if the girls would be interested in competiting against them just to try it. After a little discussion and being called scared by the other group, the girls suited up and gave it a go, winning both their first matches on the mat.
Since then, Brayleigh and Jaeda have competed in several tournaments and duals, winning first and second place medals. Both girls not only won their matches at the 2021 Madill Homecoming night, Brayleigh got second and Jaeda placed third, but they definitely won the hearts of the crowd that attended that night. The whole gym went crazy screaming and cheering for the girls after coach’s introduction.
Love said the girls went to state last year as the first girls ever from Madill.,
“They made history for Madill and went to state tournament last year,” Love said. “Their names will be on the wall and I’ll forever remember them.”
Jaeda has lived in Madill her entire life and Brayleigh, moving here her freshman year, have become best friends and inseparable. They are both very athletic juniors who participate in softball and wrestling. Coaches and teachers will tell you they are both very smart, determined, and hardworking.
Brayleigh’s uncle Calvin said her attitude is what makes her who she is.
“What I love about Brayleigh is she’s a competitor, she’s ambitious, and she has a take no crap attitude,” he said. “If I had to describe her in two words; I’d say She’s all heart!”
Girls like Brayleigh and Jaeda have inspired several others to come out for the team, high school and younger. And as girls wrestling continues to grow, there will be more opportunities for girls of all ages to compete in the sport.