BY MAX IRVINE
In Eudora High School’s wrestling room, you can find the names of all of the competitors on the roster. One name stands out.
Maddy Born is a female wrestler. Born said she quit the cheer team and wanted something to fill her time during her sophomore year. So, she decided to go out for wrestling. She said her decision has had a lasting impact on her.
“It’s more of like, I can do whatever I want. I can do what I set my mind to do and this is what has helped me keep going,” Born said.
She was one of three girls to join the team this season. Now, she’s the last one standing. After finishing her season Feb. 1, captain Cael Lynch said she’s an inspiration for the team.
“Honestly, it’s an inspiration for sticking it out for a sport like this because wrestling is very hard and no girls have ever been able to finish a whole season,” Lynch said.
Although there can be challenges being the only girl on the team, Born said it’s where she belongs.
“I have my days, I have my moments, but this is my team,” Born said. “I’ve been surrounded by them for the last six months, and this is where I need to be.”
The wrestlers wrote goals they wanted to fulfill this season under their names. Born’s written goal is to win just one match. Though she went 0-14 on the season, she said there’s more to it than just winning.
“I want to have more confidence on the mat, and just to do what I’ve been taught,” Born said. “Don’t worry about what other people are doing and just focus on myself.”
Born practices and competes with the boys, becoming part of a growing trend in the U.S. According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the number of female wrestlers in high school has grown from 804 in 1994 to over 20,000 today.
Eudora wrestling coach Gus Andrews hopes her courage will help more girls go out for wrestling.
He said even though she didn’t win a match this season, she still improved immensely. Her perseverance encouraged a few of her friends to try out wrestling as well.
“Now I’ve got three managers in the room, and now I’ve got two of them that are going to wrestle next year. Just because they’ve watched Maddy,” Andrews said.
Kansas became the latest state to have girls’ wrestling as a high school program. The team is excited to see the growing platform for girls’ wrestling.
“Do it. It will change your life for the better,” Born said. “It will impact you in so many ways. It’s something that you’re going to want to do. Don’t hesitate.”
Reach reporter Max Irvine at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
Yay Maddy! You go girl! The interview since it was about you should have shown you in practice or on the mat too, not just on the sidelines.