Girls with Grit Youth Wrestling

Girls with Grit was founded with a simple goal in mind: to create more opportunities for girls in youth wrestling.

Our journey began in 2020 when our daughter, Hadley, wrestled in her first dual team experience with Steel Valley Renegades out of Pennsylvania. The event was well-organized, with great competition, a respectful coach, and a calm atmosphere. Yet, it still felt like something was missing. The answer became clear when we attended the Girls National Duals at the War of Roses USA Preseason in Indiana – Hadley needed to compete against other girls, and she needed more chances to wrestle alongside female teammates.

The Challenge: Limited Opportunities for Girls in Wrestling

Despite Hadley’s talent and the right weight class for national girls’ teams, opportunities were scarce. There weren’t many teams in our area where girls could come together, build friendships, and grow both on and off the mat. Wrestling teaches critical skills like teamwork, leadership, and perseverance, but girls were missing out on these benefits due to a lack of accessible teams. That’s when we knew something had to change.

The Financial Burden: Wrestling Shouldn’t Come with a High Price Tag

On top of this, we saw firsthand how costly the travel and competition fees were for families. Each trip could easily cost over $1,000, between hotel stays, registration, coaching fees, food, and travel. The logistics of taking time off work and sacrificing personal time only added to the burden. We envisioned a better way to support girls in wrestling—free from the heavy financial costs and political barriers that often hold them back.

Our Mission: Empowering Young Women Through Wrestling

Girls with Grit was created to give young female wrestlers the opportunity to thrive. Our mission is to empower girls to connect, compete, and develop lifelong skills. We believe in fostering strong, independent young women who can chase their dreams and build meaningful relationships through wrestling. By lifting each other up, we hope to inspire the next generation of female athletes to change the world, both on and off the mat.