Girls to try out for wrestling despite concern

As this year?s wrestling season starts, two girls, sophomore Victoria Nickson and freshman Sabrine Derder, will be trying out for the traditionally all-male wrestling team.

Nickson, who has no prior experience wrestling, said that she decided to try out for the team during her gym class when her teacher, wrestling coach Jason Planakis, ?told [her] that girls could do it.?

Although girls have been on wrestling teams in other high schools in past years, Nickson said she doesn?t know of girls that have ever tried out for the team here.

Despite Nickson?s support from her ?girlfriends,? she said that many of her ?guy friends are really mad about [her trying out.]?

?[My guy friends] don?t agree with it. They think I?m going to get crushed or killed,? Nickson said about her decision.

?I think it?s great,? wrestling senior Daniel Picado said. ?It shows that Marshall is open to both genders on the team.?

Parents of Nickson?s friends discouraged another girl from trying out this upcoming season.

?Their parents won?t let them,? she said. ?They don?t want to see their daughters getting hurt by guys.?

Sophomore wrestler Robert Gonzales said he is ?comfortable? with wrestling girls. He has done it before and does not mind.

However, Gonzales does not know how the girls will fit into the Marshall wrestling culture.

?I?m not sure about how they will fit in,? he said. ?I don?t think there has been a female wrester at Marshall before but I guess we?ll see.?

According to Picado, almost every other high school team has a girl and does not see a concern.

?I honestly don?t think that it?s that big of a deal,? he said. ?It?s going to be interesting, that?s for sure.?