Photographer: Kevin Yang/Yanger Photography

New York has just rewritten the history books by becoming the first U.S. state to sanction girls' high school wrestling in freestyle rather than folkstyle. This bold move bridges the gap between high school and college wrestling, giving female athletes a direct path to collegiate and international competition. Despite initial skepticism, this decision is reshaping the sport and paving the way for the future of girls' wrestling.

The Evolution of Girls’ Wrestling: A Long Road to Recognition

For nearly two decades, only a handful of states sanctioned girls' wrestling at the high school level. Progress was slow, with just six states taking the lead:

Hawaii (1998)
Texas (1999)
Washington (2007)
California (2011)
Alaska (2014)
Tennessee (2015)

Fast forward to 2025, and the momentum has been unstoppable. Today, only four states—Delaware, Mississippi, Vermont, and Virginia—have yet to sanction girls' wrestling. While 45 out of 46 states followed the folkstyle model, mirroring boys’ wrestling, New York broke the mold. By adopting freestyle, the state has validated what female athletes and coaches have been advocating for—wrestling that prepares girls for the next level.

Why Women’s College Wrestling Has Always Used Freestyle

Unlike their male counterparts, female college wrestlers have always competed in freestyle wrestling, aligning itself with the Senior and International schedule. With limited colleges at its infancy, this provided ample year-round competition and merged into qualifying for World and Olympic Teams, the highest possible level for women. This has historically created a difficult transition for high school girls who were trained in folkstyle.

In contrast, boys’ wrestling in high school and college have remained aligned, creating a smooth progression for male athletes. So why should girls have to struggle to adjust? New York’s decision corrects this imbalance, giving female wrestlers equal opportunities to excel at the next level.

The Fight to Sanction Freestyle: How It Happened

This historic change didn't happen overnight. For over six years, a dedicated group of advocates pushed for freestyle sanctioning, overcoming doubt and resistance.

Key Players in the Movement

Ryan Palmer – Chairman of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) sanctioning committee
Todd Nelson – Assistant Director of the NYSPHSAA and staff liaison for girls' wrestling
New York USA Wrestling (NYUSAW) – Played a crucial role in coach and referee education

"When someone told me we couldn’t go to freestyle, it just made me want to do it more," says Ryan Palmer.

Todd Nelson highlighted the committee’s decision-making process: “the discussion was about what style we were going to run. Many of the committee members, including the athletes, were saying, 'If we're going to do this right, let's run freestyle because that's what they're going to do at the next level.' The belief was that freestyle was the right thing for our student athletes, and they were 100% behind it."

Overcoming Challenges: Skepticism and Financial Concerns

Transitioning an entire state to freestyle wrestling was no easy feat. Some major hurdles included:

Coaching preparedness
Athlete preparedness
Referee training
Financial constraints
Traditionalists resistant to change

However, the benefits far outweighed the challenges. As Palmer explains, “There is no such thing as folkstyle wrestling for girls outside of the high school season.” With this reality in mind, the NYSPHSAA and New York USA Wrestling (NYUSAW) organized extensive clinics and training sessions to ensure a smooth transition.

How the Community Stepped Up

Local wrestling clubs and officials played a key role in making freestyle a success. Clinics were held statewide, featuring:

Freestyle technique training for athletes and coaches
Rules education for referees
Mock matches to help everyone adapt

Joe Uccellini, owner of Curby Training Center, opened his facility to host some of these essential clinics. These sessions helped New York build a strong freestyle foundation, ensuring that every wrestler, coach, and official was prepared for the change.

The Immediate Impact: A 57% Surge in Participation

Since the switch to freestyle, the number of female wrestlers in New York has skyrocketed from 1,343 to 2,104—a remarkable 57% increase in just one season.

Athletes Speak: A First-Hand Experience

Shane Dharaleen is a first year wrestler who competes for Middletown HS, and is coached by Heath & Sofia Macaluso. She entered the season uncertain about her abilities. She worried:
"Will I ever be good enough? Is this sport even for me?"

However, after immersing herself in New York’s first-ever freestyle state championship, her perspective changed.
"It was a beautiful experience, seeing moves I had never seen before. I saw great wrestling and wonderful techniques."

Now, Shane feels confident and prepared for future competitions. Her message to other states?
"Don’t hesitate—wrestling is the way to go." She hopes to see more freestyle tournaments and the sport expand to states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Will Other States Follow New York’s Lead?

With New York proving that freestyle is the future, the question remains—will other states make the switch? The benefits are undeniable:

✔ Easier transition to college wrestling
✔ Better preparation for international competition
✔ More opportunities for female athletes

It’s only a matter of time before states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey consider the shift. Meanwhile, the last four states that haven’t sanctioned girls' wrestling at all face increasing pressure to take action.

A New Era: The Future of Girls Wrestling in the U.S.

New York’s groundbreaking decision sets a precedent that could reshape the entire sport. By aligning high school wrestling with college and international standards, the state has given female athletes the competitive edge they deserve.

For decades, many believed that freestyle at the high school level was the only way to grow girls wrestling—New York just proved them wrong. The fears that coaches wouldn’t be ready, referees wouldn’t adapt, or athletes wouldn’t embrace the change have all been shattered.

The message to the rest of the country is clear: The time for freestyle is now.

New York wanted to align high school wrestling with college and international competition, ensuring female athletes are prepared for higher-level events.
Learn more about why the NYSPHSSA Executive Committe approved freestyle here.
Freestyle focuses more on throws, exposure points, and quick transitions, whereas folkstyle emphasizes control and riding time.
Concerns about coaching readiness, referee training, and financial impact were the biggest hurdles, but extensive education and collaboration helped overcome them.
Yes, participation in girls' wrestling in New York surged by 57% following the transition to freestyle.
With New York’s success, more states may consider freestyle, though tradition and logistical challenges might delay widespread adoption.
New York aims to continue growing the sport, increase female representation in coaching, and advocate for more states to adopt freestyle.