If women’s involvement in Greco-Roman wrestling is supposed to happen in steps, then a mighty big one was taken on Friday in Idaho.
At the 2018 Turf Wars (formerly the Western Regionals), female age-group athletes participated in a series of official Greco-Roman dual meets, which is the first time in US history such an opportunity has occurred. Previously, the only other American event to offer women the chance to compete in Greco came at the Minnesota Storm Holiday Cup (twice — in 2013 and ’14). But the Storm tournament was for Seniors. The dual meet format on Friday included Schoolgirl and Cadet-age competitors, aka, the fasting-growing segment of wrestlers nationwide.
The Particulars
Other than the fact that Greco-Roman competition was available to young women, the next most important component resided in the level of participation. 12 teams comprised of 160 athletes battled it out in a pool-system dual meet format. So it wasn’t just a handful of wrestlers here and there mixed in — critical to note due to a longstanding misconception that the classical style is and should be for men only. The 2018 running of the Turf Wars, albeit a small sample size, certainly suggests that if Greco-Roman is accessible to female age-groupers, they will show up.
The idea of providing Greco-Roman competition for women is not brand new. Over the past decade, more and more female wrestlers have expressed enthusiasm pertaining to the discipline’s possible inclusion into the Olympic curriculum. Talk was ratcheted up even more three years ago when United World Wrestling President Nenad Lalovic intimated his organization was “looking at what could be done.” It would have to be assumed that because Lalovic referenced the United States in the cited interview, he was aware of the Minnesota Storm Holiday Tournament’s attempt at offering the style to both genders. But there has not been much in the way of public discussion ever since, save for Junior World medalist Alexis Porter’s op-ed on this platform in 2017. Whether or not women’s Greco will actually enjoy candidacy for inclusion ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics is still unknown.
The summary below was provided by Rob Roy.
“The man behind this event is Ned Zollinger, a longtime supporter of wrestling in the west. Zollinger has been involved with USA Wrestling since the inception of the organization. In years past, Ned was president of the East Idaho chapter of the organization, before the Idaho association combined into one group. He participated in the very first Western Regional Kids/Cadet Championships when it was held in Gillette, Wyoming. He has been at every Western Regional event since, pushing three decades of service.
“Back in 2010, Ned Zollinger was honored as The USA Wrestling’s President Award, signifying Exceptional State Leadership. Back then Ned said, ‘I am hoping I can bring something back to inspire, and help the people I work with, on the grassroots level.’ Zollinger has certainly lived up to that statement and more! Three years back, Girls freestyle was added to the long running Junior Boys Duals. Since that time, Middle School, and Elementary School Duals were also included. And this year for the very First time, Girls Greco was added. ‘It’s time,’ said Zollinger. ‘It’s the right time. A lot of very stellar careers will begin right here.'”
2018 Turf Wars — Girls Greco-Roman Duals
June 15th
Pocatello, Idaho
TEAM STANDINGS
1st place: Washington
2nd place: Hawaii
3rd place: California
TEAM LIST
Alaska
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Washington B
West Orphan (comprised of competitors from multiple states)
TEAM DUAL RESULTS
Matches consisted of pool competition and duals were then bracketed into rounds.
Washington — 5-0
Washington-58 Nevada-12
Washington-61 Montana-11
Washington-40 Hawaii-33
Washington-58 Colorado-15
Washington-43 California-30
Hawaii — 4-1
Hawaii-59 Oregon-15
Hawaii-51 Washington B-17
Washington-40 Hawaii-33
Hawaii-35 California-30
Hawaii-53 Colorado-20
California — 3-2
California-33 West Orphan-10
California-42 Utah-10
California-49 Colorado-18
Hawaii-35 California-30
Washington-43 California-30
Alaska — 4-1
Alaska-48 Utah-20
Alaska-40 Nevada-35
Alaska-44 Oregon-20
Alaska-35 Idaho-34
Colorado-49 Alaska-20
Idaho — 3-2
Idaho-45 West Orphan-15
Idaho-44 Montana-19
Idaho-30 Washington B-29
Alaska-35 Idaho-34
Colorado-37 Idaho-25
Oregon — 3-2
Oregon-25 Nevada-25 (tie-breaker criteria)
Oregon-30 Utah-29
Alaska-44 Oregon-20
Oregon-34 Washington B-21
Hawaii-59 Oregon-15
Colorado — 2-3
Colorado-37 Idaho-25
Colorado-49 Alaska-20
California-49 Colorado-18
Washington-58 Colorado-15
Hawaii-53 Colorado-20
Utah — 2-3
Alaska-48 Utah-20
Oregon-30 Utah-29
Utah-41 Nevada-29
Utah-50 West Orphan-10
California-42 Utah-10
Washington B — 2-2
Washington B-36 Montana-22
Oregon-34 Washington B-21
Hawaii-51 Washington B-17
Washington B-32 West Orphan-21
Idaho-30 Washington B-29
Montana — 1-4
Nevada-38 Montana-15
Washington-61 Montana-11
Idaho-44 Montana-19
Montana-32 West Orphan-15
Washington B-36 Montana-22
Nevada — 1-4
Nevada-38 Montana-15
Washington-58 Nevada-12
Oregon-25 Nevada-25 (tie-breaker criteria)
Alaska-40 Nevada-35
Utah-41 Nevada-29
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