“I’ve been having nostril bleeds lately however I’ve by no means had each of my (nostrils) on the similar time like that,” Rodriguez mentioned with amusing. “It was troublesome.”

Rodriguez, a junior, didn’t get the win in her match in opposition to Rensselaer’s Audyn Northcutt however the second was nonetheless important for her and for the game. The Brickies and Bombers had been visiting Illiana Christian for what’s believed to be the first-ever women wrestling twin held within the Area.

The IHSAA Board of Administrators accepted women wrestling as an “rising sport” within the spring. It is going to fall underneath the governing physique’s purview however will not be an formally sanctioned sport till 50% of member faculties take part.

Vikings coach Matthew Vander Laan mentioned he the opposite coaches put the duals collectively in lower than a month after being contacted Hobart boys coach Jason Prepare dinner and officers from Rensselaer.

The majority of the wrestlers on all groups are between 106 and 132 kilos, so “further matches” that didn’t depend towards crew scores had been included in order that as many as attainable might get some mat time. Every crew had not less than eight individuals.

The Brickies received every of their duals, topping Illiana 42-24 and Rensselaer 36-24. The Bombers beat the Vikings 42-12.

“The truth that this occurred makes it a hit. It’s solely upward from right here,” Vander Laan mentioned. “There are some women within the state who’re completely elite however that’s like 5% who’ve been doing it for a extremely very long time. There’s an enormous inflow of latest women now.”

A kind of new women is Illiana sophomore Marissa Krause, who earned her first-ever pin in her second-ever match. She acquired Rensselaer’s Araceli Murillo within the second interval. Krause known as it “embarrassing” to be the focus along with her arm raised by the official after the autumn.

“I do it to have enjoyable and study one thing new, not simply to win,” Krause mentioned. “I’m at all times in a sport and I noticed that you simply didn’t want any expertise, so I used to be like ‘Let’s strive wrestling.’ I really adore it. It’s an amazing surroundings.”

Krause was speaking with Murillo all through the match, even smiling and laughing at factors.

“I used to be simply saying that she’s doing an excellent job. If I poke her within the eye or one thing, I might say ‘Sorry.’ If she says, ‘Sorry,’ I’ll say ‘It’s OK,’” Krause mentioned. “It’s such a brand new sport and everyone knows that is our first yr, perhaps our second yr and it’s principally seen as a guys’ sport. We perceive we’re all new at this.”

Hobart coach Tomas Westberg mentioned women advised him that wrestling with boys was intimidating. The arrival of the ladies program supplied a brand new path.

“They get pleasure from simply being with one another and studying collectively. All of them have loads of enjoyable,” Westberg mentioned. “It’s means totally different from teaching boys.”

Enjoyable was the theme for the night time.

Illiana 106-pounder Gabriella Costello was injured however nonetheless made her influence as essentially the most vocal and visual cheerleader within the health club. Many of the athletes smiled and joked via competitors and loudly inspired teammates from simply off the mat in a means not typically seen within the boys sport.

“This has nearly been like a sorority up up to now. Numerous these women know one another, they see one another each weekend at these tournaments across the state,” Vander Laan mentioned. “You are feeling such as you’re a part of one thing new and it’s rising. Numerous friendliness simply naturally develops.”