THE WEBSTER CITY GIRLS middle school wrestling squad includes, front row (left to right): Abby Heckert, Ariana Willson, Madison Culver, Haedyn Soesbe, Kearsyn Kite and Kyla Van Demark. Back: Kendra Schultz, Liberty Gamble, Kendra Kohl, Kali Hartnett and Mikenzie Claman. Student managers (back right) are Pablo Calel and Tariq Burton. (DFJ photo by David Borer)

In a place already boasting plenty of Webster City historical significance, another landmark moment occurred inside Jefferson Gym last week as the seventh and eighth grade girls wrestling team made their grand debut.

Representing the Webster City Community School District’s first girls mat squad, a group of 11 seventh and eighth grade Lynx girls hosted a meet last Tuesday afternoon in front of a sizable crowd.

Webster City competed in 18 matches, winning an impressive 12 times despite having only three practices before this first meet.

The team, led by head coach Todd Hartnett and his wife, Lori, started as a dream a couple years ago after the state of Iowa formally sanctioned girls wrestling in 2022.

“It took many hands and conversations to get our program up and running,” said Todd Hartnett, the head coach. “New programs must be discussed with the school superintendent, AD, and then approved by the school board. The coaching position became available and selected, and one of the middle school girls interested in the program made signs to hang up in the school to encourage others to sign up in the office for the program.

“Practices started, and the girls hit the mat running.”

Prior to being sanctioned, if a girl wanted to wrestle, she would compete for the boys team. Webster City’s Maddie Pulis is the trailblazer who got it all started for the Webster City Community School District.

Pulis, now a senior, has wrestled varsity all four years of high school. She participated with the Webster City boys squad during her freshman and sophomore years of high school.

Once girls wrestling became official, Pulis began wrestling with the Fort Dodge Senior High girls varsity wrestling team. Pulis’s record heading into last weekend was 30-7 for the Dodgers.

For as big as wrestling is in Iowa, the state is a little late to the party. Hawaii became the first state to sanction girls wrestling back in 1998. Today, there are 44 states with sanctioned high school girls wrestling, with Kentucky being the most recent to join in 2023.

Since being sanctioned in Iowa, girls wrestling has grown by leaps and bounds.

“As far as actual girls school teams in Iowa, there are a lot of new teams this year and we are seeing an increase in their team numbers, which is great,” Hartnett said. “Our girls have an opportunity to have a match or two at meets after putting in the hard work during practices.”

Haedyn Soesbe, an eighth grader from Webster City, was enthusiastic about being a part of this historic event.

“I think it’s really great,” Soesbe said. “It’s a great way to get more girls to join girls wrestling and create a wonderful team and family, where everyone can get along.”

Teammate Kearsyn Kite, a seventh grader from Webster City, echoed that sentiment in reference to this first for the program.

“It was amazing to know that I could change Webster City for the better and make a difference in many girls’ lives,” Kite said.

For this momentous occasion, one would be hard pressed to find a better venue for the first meet than the iconic Jefferson Gym. A large crowd of spectators was on hand to cheer on their school’s athletes.

The enthusiasm was palpable. The Lynx wrestlers supported each other and could be heard cheering on their teammates.

For seventh grade wrestler Kendra Kohl, the most rewarding part of wrestling is, “getting to watch my own teammates wrestle,” as well as “gaining strength mentally and physically.”

For most of the team, wrestling was a completely new experience. Only three of the girls have competed on club teams and attended wrestling camps.

Kendra Schultz, a seventh grader from Webster City, summed up the sentiment of several of her teammates.

“I just started this year,” Schultz said. “I would like to do more, such as wrestling camps.”

Wrestling is a very intense, physical sport. Kali Hartnett, a Webster City eighth grade wrestler with club experience, spoke about the hardest part of the sport.

“Probably the conditioning and getting in wrestling shape, because wrestling shape is way different than normal shape,” Hartnett said.

Eighth grader Abby Heckert of Webster City said, “The most rewarding part has been having my hand raised (in victory) at my first meet.”

In the aftermath of Webster City’s first girls wrestling meet, optimism ran high — with an eye to the future. Kyla Van Demark, a seventh grader who lives in Woolstock, was “honored that I’m able to be a part of something like this.”

“I want to keep pushing myself to get better, and yes, I want to continue wrestling,” Van Demark said.

Ariana Willson, a seventh grader from Webster City, reflected on being involved by saying, “I felt proud and honored that I’m able to be a part of this program.”