sports
December 16, 2025
Girls' wrestling now the fastest growing sport in the country
EXPORT, Pennsylvania — When Ben Fallon was growing up in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, all he ever wanted to do was play football. Fallon was in fourth grade, and in Western Pennsylvania, pretty much every boy wants to play football. However, his parents had some strong feelings about that sport.
TL;DR
- Ben Fallon discovered wrestling in his youth and found it instrumental in shaping his character and adult life.
- Fallon's three daughters have joined a local girls' wrestling program, reigniting his passion for the sport.
- Girls' wrestling is the fastest-growing high school sport in the US, surpassing football and basketball.
- Pennsylvania has nearly 250 high schools offering competitive wrestling for girls.
- The sport is credited with fostering discipline, mutual respect, and quiet confidence among young female athletes.
- The NCAA has recognized women's wrestling as a championship sport.
- Girls' wrestling participation has surged significantly, particularly during the pandemic, with numbers rising from 25,000 to 87,000 nationally.
- High-profile figures attending wrestling events and the success of wrestlers in other fields like business and politics are contributing to its popularity.
Continue reading the original article