In a groundbreaking move, New York has become the first state in the U.S. to sanction girls' high school wrestling as freestyle instead of folkstyle. This historic decision aligns with the style used in women's college wrestling, providing a seamless pipeline for young athletes aspiring to compete at higher levels. Despite facing significant skepticism, New York's bold step marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of girl's and women's wrestling.

January also marks the time of the year when women’s NCAA leaders gather for their annual convention to conduct NCAA committee business. My attention will focus on the potential vote approving women’s collegiate freestyle to become their 91st championship sport.

If they vote in favor of approval, it sets the stage for some compelling questions about the future of female wrestling. For example, can girls and women’s wrestling become a more independent  and self-sustaining industry? More importantly, does freestyle wrestling offer the best opportunity for females to adopt a streamlined development and competition process based on one style of wrestling?