Girls wrestling has finally appeared at Del Val. Over the summer, there was a petition to allow a girls team at the school, and after that petition got enough signatures and attention, girls now have their own team at Del Val. 

The team, although small, is mighty. There are seven girls on the team, including seniors Grace Jenkins and Emma Liscowacki. 

“The team this year is small, but we’re all close and have become good friends with each other,” said Jenkins. “We enjoy practices, the tournaments are fun, and matches at home are my favorite.”

The girls team competes in Sunday tournaments where they wrestle other New Jersey school’s girls team. The weight classes for girls wrestling are 100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185 and 235.

With the season coming to a close, many of the girls are feeling the excitement to cross the finish line. 

“It’s a brutal sport,” said junior Noelle Flower. “You need a lot of commitment, and you need to want to be there to be able to be a wrestler.”

The commitment the girls have to the sport is amazing, and watching the girls wrestle shows how hard they work to win, and how much they want to be there. 

The girls have formed new friendships, made memories and learned what it takes to be a Del Val wrestler. 

Del Val’s wrestling team, coached by Andy Fitz, won a state title last year, and they have hopes to win again this year. 

“Being on the mat is a feeling like no other, and I don’t think I would’ve found myself enjoying wrestling, at least not like I do now,” said Flower.