Girls can wrestle too. That phrase could be seen on Facebook, petitions and at school board meetings. It was all a part of a two-year initiative to bring girls wrestling to Randall High School.

When the wrestlers take the mat later this semester, a brand new girls team will tie up their shoelaces and strap on head gear.

Lisa White, parent of freshman Madison Seales, spearheaded the effort sending emails and educating others about the interest in girls wrestling.

Seales, who has been wrestling for nine years, has wrestled with Randall Youth Wrestling Club which is only for ages four to 14.  Over the years, Seales has won both state and national titles. As she approached the cutoff age to wrestling with Randall Youth, White feared her daughter’s wrestling career would come to an end.

Approximately 50 girls signed a petition expressing an interest in wrestling in high school. At the April school board meeting, CISD athletic director Brent McCallie recommended the board consider approving the new program.

The recommendation was later approved and the district hired Randall graduate and former RHS wrestler Guillermo Sanchez as the girls wrestling coach.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, Randall will make 232 high schools in Texas who have a girls wrestling program.