Poland Seminary High School’s wrestling program offers both boys and girls opportunities to get involved, compete, and build valuable life skills. The school’s commitment to supporting both teams ensures that wrestling is an option for any student interested in trying the sport, regardless of their background or experience level.
Freshman Nickole Wertman points out that wrestling can have a positive impact on everyday life. She describes it as “a good way to ease your anger, relieve stress, make new friends, and get exercise.”
Wertman believes the presence of a girls’ team makes the program more inclusive and diverse.
“It’s more diverse because we have a girls’ team,” she says. She also supports the idea of girls wrestling boys in practice or competition, explaining, “It’s the same weight class, and gender does not matter.”
She finds wrestling rewarding, saying, “Battles are not as hard as they seem to be—it makes me feel accomplished.” For Wertman, a practice schedule of two or three times a week is ideal, providing enough training without overwhelming other commitments.
Gina Beadle, another freshman, echoes many of Wertman’s thoughts.
She describes wrestling as “very fun and enjoyable,” but adds that “it’s hard and challenging, but very rewarding.”
Beadle feels that having a girls’ team could help introduce more students to the sport: “A lot of girls aren’t into wrestling, so maybe since we have girls in wrestling, they can get to know the sport.”
She agrees with Wertman that girls should have the opportunity to wrestle boys, saying, “Even though guys are biologically stronger, girls get more experience and challenge wrestling guys.” Beadle also highlights some practical benefits: “It can make you stronger for chores and helps with self-defense.”
Head Coach Beadle adds another perspective on the program’s inclusivity and expectations.
“We practice five to six days a week, and five days on tournament weeks,” Coach Beadle said, emphasizing the dedication required of all team members. Coach Beadle believes that girls ‘ wrestling is a great opportunity for girls of all different shapes and sizes to compete and find success.
Coach Beadle said, “If a girl is at a competitive level to wrestle a guy, then she can make that choice.” However, he generally feels that girls should wrestle girls and guys should wrestle guys, reflecting a belief in fair competition and safety while still supporting individual choice.
Both Wertman’s and Beadle’s experiences, along with Coach Beadle’s insights, demonstrate the range of benefits wrestling can offer—from physical fitness and stress relief to building confidence and forming new friendships. Their input shows that wrestling is more than just a sport—it’s a way to grow as a person and become part of a supportive team environment. As Poland Seminary’s wrestling program continues, it remains a place where students of all backgrounds can push themselves, learn new skills, and support one another on and off the mat.
