The history of women's wrestling is rich and diverse, with roots stretching back to the 1800s. In New England, female athletes have significantly contributed to the sport's evolution, both in amateur and professional arenas. Their journey, marked by challenges and triumphs, has paved the way for future generations.
Female wrestler in action
Early Roots: 1800s to Mid-1900s
The history of women’s wrestling began in the 1800's and was featured in numerous carnivals, circuses, vaudeville, and burlesque shows. This era laid the foundation for women's participation in combat sports, showcasing their strength and agility in a public forum.
The Rise of Amateur Wrestling
In recent years, female athletes have been taking the mat in growing numbers. This season, Big Red wrestling’s roster featured 10 girls, the most in the history of the program. A traditionally male-dominated sport, wrestling at Exeter is rapidly growing into a competitive arena for female athletes - a trend that’s happening around the country.
Exeter ranks in the top third of NEPSAC wrestling programs in terms of girls' participation. The camaraderie among female wrestlers, even between competitors from different schools, is setting a new standard. The rise of girls wrestling can be attributed in part to top-down efforts.
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“In the world of New England prep schools, a lot of this has been driven from the bottom up, by individual coaches and programs committing to girls wrestling,” Muchnick says. “You have to give a ton of credit to Andover for being the prime mover here: Kassie Bateman and Rich Gorham have spent a decade-plus making this vision a reality. But at this point, there are quite a few other programs - Choate, St.
Western New England University's Success
For the first time in program history, the Western New England University (WNE) women’s wrestling team has been ranked among the top 25 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's (NWCA) preseason poll. Head Coach Tyler Keane expressed his excitement about the ranking, stating, "We're thrilled to be ranked 22nd in the country. This is a huge milestone for our team and a testament to the hard work of everyone involved. We're looking forward to the season ahead, embracing each challenge and making the most of every moment."
Along with the team’s national ranking, standout sophomore wrestler Linda Holeman received individual recognition, being ranked sixth in the 124 lb weight class by the NWCA. Holeman, who closed last season with an impressive 24-8 record, qualified for the NCWWC Championships, where she became the first WNE women’s wrestler to secure a victory at the event.
Riley Lerner of Mays Landing, New Jersey, was a state champion and four-time finalist for Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. She is one of only three girls in New Jersey history to reach the state finals four years in a row. Lerner was the first female wrestler to reach 100 career wins against girls and finished with a career record of 110-14.
High School Girls Wrestling
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Kaydance Atkinson: A Pioneer
“To know I left my mark on not only our program but our school feels so good,” said Atkinson. Atkinson faced Trumbull’s Marangelie Teixeira in the final round at both the State and New England Championships.
“When I’m getting ready to wrestle, there are like 30 things going on in my head at once. But once I step on the mat, everything disappears. When I feel tired, I look around to see where my mom is and where my coach is, and that motivates me to push through and finish."
Atkinson is coached by Nick Catalano, who took over the program ahead of the 2019-2020 season. Catalano said that while he and Assistant Coach Shane Day inherited a great group of kids from the previous coach, the COVID pandemic really hit the program hard.
“We’ve really been able to raise the standards of what is required to join the team, including grades, and we went into this season with a really good number and good group. We're seeing more retention now of kids who are joining and sticking with the program,” said Catalano. “I’m proud of what we are building and have accomplished so far, but really, more than the success on the mat, I’m happy to see how many young people's lives are being positively impacted by the sport of wrestling.
“She was a captain this year. She leads both on and off the mat. For our younger students to see athletes like Kaydance who are finding success also be the people who are putting in the work, that will help grow in the way we are looking to grow,” said Catalano. “I’m very proud of Kaydance and how far she's come in a few years.
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“I consider Kaydance as someone who is setting the example for the entire team and program. As far as athletes go, she is a one-of-one athlete. There is nobody else who can say they’ve done things she has done,” said Catalano. “On top of that, she is pioneering in a new sport. Leading in a new thing. That in itself is a huge challenge. Being a girl and stepping on the mat is a challenge in itself.
“Being a girl wrestler isn’t the easiest thing in the world. Obviously, there are a lot of boys out there who just think you can’t do it and are constantly in your ear telling you that. I feel like that really pushed me to do better. All these boys that said I couldn’t do it, I’m beating them now,” said Atkinson.
“To be someone young girls can look up to feels so good, it makes me pinch myself. Young girls shouldn’t let anyone stop them. Keep going and believe in yourself. No one is going to believe in you for you.
Professional Wrestling: NWA New England Women's Heavyweight Championship
The NWA New England Women's Heavyweight Championship was the primary women's professional wrestling title in the Century Wrestling Alliance. It was one of the first titles to be introduced when the promotion joined the National Wrestling Alliance and became NWA New England in January 1998.
Violet Flame defeated Amanda Storm in Bridgeport, Connecticut on September 15, 1999, to become the first champion.
NWA New England Women's Heavyweight Championship Title History
| Wrestler | Reign | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violet Flame | 1 | September 15, 1999 | Bridgeport, Connecticut |
Professional Female Wrestlers
Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame
Founded in 2022 with the intention to preserve the history of both amateur and professional women's wrestling. The organization's mission is to educate, promote, and preserve the history of Women's wrestling. They educate the public through various outreach programs, live events, and via streaming/video, which is free and open to the public.
Nomination Credentials
Credentials needed for nomination: The nominee must have made a significant contribution to the history of women's wrestling both amateur and professional in different eras. These eras include:
- 1800's to 1910 Pre Radio-Era
- 1920's-1950's Radio Era
- 1950's to 1970's Early TV Era
- 1980's to 2000 Modern TV Era
- 2000's-Present Internet Era
The following categories will be considered for being inducted to the Women's wrestling hall of fame:
- Pioneer: This category is reserved for female wrestling trailblazers who helped pave the way.
- Amateur: This category is reserved for female Olympians and female NCAA Athlete's.
- Professional: This category is reserved for all female professional wrestlers.
- Non-Wrestling: This category is reserved for non-wrestlers, which include referee's, coaches, managers, valet's, promoters, executives, broadcasters, journalists, announcers, historians.
Founding Members
- Christopher Annino
- Angel Orsini
- Susan Tex Green
- Gary Wolf
Board of Directors
- Chris Bournea
- Candi Capoferri