SPOKANE — More than 2,000 female wrestlers from across the country are competing in Spokane this weekend for national championships. Officials say this is the largest national championship to date.
Girls as young as 7 are competing for national titles. Top three finishers in some age groups will earn spots on Team USA for World and Pan American Championships.
“We’ve been the fastest growing sport at the high school level for the past 6 or 7 years,” said Terry Steiner, USA Women’s National Team coach. “The only thing outside of high school that’s growing faster than us is pickleball.”
For wrestlers who place in the top three, the sport becomes more than a hobby. USA Wrestling provides camps, overseas competition and other resources.
“We really wrap our arms around them a lot more as a national staff,” Steiner said. “We bring them into camps, we send them overseas, we spend a lot more resources on them. It’s a big step for them to come here and fight for that national team status.”
Wrestling can be physically and emotionally demanding, but competitors say the rewards are worth it.
“I feel like a lot of girls are scared to get into wrestling because of how rough it is, but it’s a very fun and rewarding sport,” said wrestler Christal Desir. “You feel very rewarded when you win matches. I think a lot of young girls should try it.”
Steiner believes wrestling teaches life skills beyond the sport.
“It’s gonna teach you so much about yourself and about life skills — more than just about how to win a wrestling match,” he said. “It’s gonna teach you how to win at this game of life.”
The championships continue through the weekend.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
