The IHSAA has granted full recognition for Boys Volleyball and Girls Wrestling, starting from the upcoming school year. Both sports were previously part of the emerging sport process before being added to the official list of sanctioned sports by the state.
Girls wrestling has gained significant traction in Indiana, with over 1,400 students involved in the sport at 177 different schools, including those in the Tri-State area. Mt. Vernon and Reitz high schools have developed strong girls wrestling programs, with Coach Ferguson expressing his excitement about the growth of the sport with IHSAA recognition. He believes that full recognition will help girls wrestling continue to expand and attract more female athletes to join the sport.
Junior Girls Wrestler Lili Greenfield also encourages others to give it a try, highlighting the fun and learning opportunities that come with participating in wrestling. The sport offers a pathway for young female athletes to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone on to compete at the international level, including on Olympic teams.
Boys Volleyball was also added to the list of officially sanctioned IHSAA sports due to its growing popularity and participation. With this recognition, more schools and students are expected to get involved in both sports during the upcoming fall season. The addition of these two sports marks a significant milestone for high school athletics in Indiana and sets up continued growth and success for both programs.