SJS News

When the Saint James School girls’ wrestling team stepped onto the mat this winter, they blazed a trail for future athletes by launching a new program. This year marked the first time Saint James fielded a dedicated girls’ wrestling team. In past seasons, individual girls had wrestled alongside the boys, but this was the first true Saint James girls’ squad—a group of student-athletes who helped establish a new tradition for the School. 

Their season included appearances at several girls-only tournaments, including Saint James’ Admiral Holloway Tournament, the Lady Husky Invitational, and Clash at the Creek. By year’s end, the team had not only made history on campus, but they also joined one of the fastest-growing movements in American high school sports.

Nationally, girls’ wrestling is experiencing remarkable momentum. Participation has surged from roughly 11,500 high school athletes a decade ago to more than 74,000 in 2024–25, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). More than 8,100 schools now offer girls’ wrestling, more than 40 states have sanctioned girls-only state championships, and over 150 colleges sponsor women’s varsity wrestling programs. In 2025, women’s wrestling was officially recognized by the NCAA as a championship sport. For Saint James, the timing could not be better.

SJS athletic director and wrestling coach Kacey Michelsen saw that opportunity clearly. 

“The growth of girls’ wrestling and the addition of more girls-only tournaments created a perfect storm of opportunity to launch a legitimate girls’ wrestling program here,” he said.

Now in his second year as athletic director, Mr. Michelsen said when he came to Saint James, support for girls’ wrestling was a priority.
That support mattered, because this program did not emerge out of nowhere. Mr. Michelsen noted that girls had wrestled at Saint James before, but typically as individuals on the boys’ team rather than as a separate squad. 

“In earlier years, the access simply was not there,” he said. “Now, the sport has evolved to the point that a school can bring a small group of girls to individual tournaments and truly have a team.”

Fourth former Gia Lotsikas, the team’s captain, said she first joined because her older sister, Greer ’25, wrestled. 

“I’d never done a physical sport before and I thought that this would be a good opportunity to build myself athletically,” she said. “And then I just ended up liking it and sticking with it and trying to get other people to join.” 

That last part mattered. Again and again in an interview with several of the team members, the wrestlers described how one girl’s interest encouraged another’s. Fifth former Layla Al-Saleh said Gia “was definitely a big factor” in her decision to join. 

“She was really motivating,” Layla said. “I thought wrestling would keep me conditioned, but then I actually really liked it and wanted to do it more.” 

That pattern—one student stepping forward, then pulling another with her—helped turn curiosity into a team. Third former Olivia Zumbrun had wrestled when she was younger and saw this season as her chance to try it seriously. Fourth former Savannah Bischoff joined as well, and together the girls created something far less intimidating than going it alone.

That sense of shared courage became one of the defining themes of the season. Wrestling is famously demanding, and the girls did not sugarcoat that reality. 

“Wrestling is definitely the hardest physical thing I’ve ever put my body through before,” Gia said. “But it’s also very rewarding. After the toughest practices you feel productive and happy.” 

Savannah agreed, describing wrestling as a positive outlet at the end of long school days. 

“After we’re done wrestling, I feel like we all just feel happier,” she said. “It’s a really good mental health thing, I think.” 

As the wrestlers talked, it became clear that the sport challenged them as much mentally as physically. Olivia described the strategic demands of competition.

“During a match, you need to know what you’re going to do and then do it. You can’t just think about it,” she said.

Gia took it further, calling wrestling intensely mental because “you are on the mat alone and it’s only you. You have to go out there and believe in yourself.” 

That kind of pressure can be overwhelming, especially for first-year wrestlers competing in front of classmates and friends. But the Saint James girls learned to meet that pressure head-on. Layla recalled being pinned in just seconds by a state champion in her first match, then having to regroup immediately for the next one.

“You can’t just get in your head,” she said. “And that’s what’s so mentally challenging about it.” 

At the same time, the season was filled with moments of joy. Layla remembered winning an exhibition match on Senior Night in front of a cheering home crowd. Olivia remembered earning a hard-fought win in the final match of a long day at Clash at the Creek. Gia pointed to a breakthrough stretch when she won three matches in a row and began to believe, truly, that she could succeed.

“Since I’ve learned that I can win, it’s given me the confidence to just go out and do it,” she said. 

Her season proved that point. Gia became the first girl from Saint James to win a match at the National Prep Wrestling Tournament and was named to the Washington County All-County Wrestling Team. Mr. Michelsen said she won 15 matches this year, captured a tournament title at the Lady Husky Invitational, placed third at Admiral Holloway, and placed in every tournament she entered. 

But this story is bigger than one wrestler. Mr. Michelsen said one of the most exciting developments was how quickly the team progressed. 

“For being new to the sport, they went out and they won a lot of matches,” he said. “They beat girls that have wrestled for a couple of years.” 

Just as important, the team’s presence changed what younger students and prospective wrestlers could imagine. What once looked unusual now looked possible. The girls themselves understand that. 

“This team is setting the pathway for more girls to join this, showing everyone that this is a real thing and girls do want to wrestle,” said Savannah.
Olivia echoed that thought, saying that as the team grows, it creates a standard that helps other girls feel they can do it too. Gia said she is “extremely proud to be a part of starting this program.” 

Mr. Michelsen sees something special in that pride. 

“There’s something very refreshing and joyful about girls wrestling,” he said. “It’s a very different, very positive, but competitive environment.”

This first girls’ wrestling team may be remembered for its milestones: multiple girls-only tournaments, national competition, and historic wins. But its deeper legacy may be the culture it created—one of toughness, support, confidence, and belief.

Every program has a beginning. At Saint James, this one began with a group of girls willing to try something difficult, to trust one another, and to step into the circle on their own terms.

Now the path is there for the girls who will follow.