A tradition of excellence, that’s what Osage wrestling has always been, backed by an overwhelming amount of community support. The wrestlers of the Green Devils Wrestling team work hard each and every season to excel at their sport. Fathers encourage sons to participate, older brothers encourage younger ones, but this year, it wasn’t just younger brothers who were encouraged to go out for the team, but sisters, too.
When she was seven, Shelby Blake tried wrestling for the first time, participating in a few tournaments and learning some of the basics of the sport. Since then, it had always remained in the back of her mind to try it again, especially growing up with two older brothers who wrestled for the Green Devils. Finally, after attending a camp over the summer which was devoted entirely to female wrestlers, she came to see just how popular the sport was becoming for women.
“Seeing other girls do it made it okay to do it too,” Blake said. It didn’t hurt fellow freshman Chloe Krebsbach was also showing an interest in joining the team, but had been told by her parents she was not allowed to participate unless another female was going to take part as well.
Krebsbach, whose brothers wrestled for the Green Devils just like Blake’s did, always wanted to wrestle and admits she has enjoyed it a great deal since starting at the beginning of the year. She’s come to appreciate the fact the boys no longer act as if it’s weird to wrestle with her or Shelby. Shelby attributed this to the fact many of their male counterparts had been wrestling since they were young boys and now have such a focused mindset that when it’s time to wrestle, they simply take to the mats and do what needs to be done.
“I was mostly encouraged by my friends to do it because it wasn’t normal,” Krebsbach said. “But my uncle didn’t want me to do it because he was afraid that it would be uncomfortable for me.”
While neither has any plans right now to continue wrestling after high school, both admit with how much women’s wrestling is growing and moving into our area, they could change their minds quite easily by the time they are ready to graduate. Both describe the training required to be part of the Osage Green Devils as really tough, but say they have received encouragement not only from their teammates but from the community as a whole.
“I’ve never done anything with this much strength or conditioning required,” Blake said. “Being a girl, you don’t build as much muscle as the guys do but I’ve had a great experience. Wrestling has taught me never to give up. I didn’t do well the first half of the season but now I’m getting into the groove and putting things together.”
Coach Jennings described both girls as positive additions to the team and hard workers. “It’s hard for any first-time wrestler, at any level, but at the varsity level with our schedule is a tough road,” Jennings said. “They haven’t complained one bit. They have been flexible when it comes to travel, locker rooms and boys. I think the boys have accepted them as an important part of the team. They both come from wrestling families and have been around the sport for several years which helps. They have come through with some important wins for us this year.”
Seeing the way the community has always turned out for wrestling meets, as well as listening to the encouragement of the Osage wrestling fans, has motivated both girls to work hard and strive to excel. Because there are few other girls on opposing teams, both wrestle against their male counterparts, though Krebsbach has had the opportunity to wrestle against another girl. As the sport grows even more inclusive, both hope to see other girls come out for the Green Devils Wrestling team.
“What wrestling has taught me is to always do what interests you,” Krebsbach said. “Even if someone tells you not to, do it anyway.”
Courtesy of: Globe Gazette