Illinois high school sports officials say they’re seeing fewer boys but more girls in competitive wrestling.
Data from the Illinois High School Association show that 394 girls have appeared on wrestling rosters this season, an 11 percent increase over the 355 girls who wrestled last year.
Kylie Miller, a freshman at Grant Park High School, says her first career win was against a male opponent, proving that girls can compete in a male-dominated sport.
Jaymie Pratl, another student at the school, says she became interested in wrestling after starting karate when she was 5 and boxing when she was 14. She says she joined the team because she thought wrestling would be the most physically challenging sport.