Girls wrestling is the fastest growing sport lately, and Bellefonte has hopped on this train. At the beginning of the 2024-2025 wrestling season, Bellefonte High began a girls wrestling club team. With a total of four girls on the team, it’s taken off.
The varsity girls are freshmen Carly Bair, Bailee Scott, and Ella Johnsonbaugh, along with senior Victoria Schellenberg.
“I love that Bellefonte has finally created a girls wrestling team. This provides female athletes more opportunities to grow,” Victoria said.
With only four girls on the team, the Bellefonte girls team is full of friendship and good sportsmanship.
“My favorite thing about being on the team is the friendships that I have made and how much better I’ve gotten over the years,” Carly said
Bellefonte has even organized an elementary program. Last year, there were only a few girls a part of the program. Now, there are over 20.
“I love setting an example for the youth girls and watching them wrestle and we make sure they know when you lose, it’s just a lesson on what to do next time and the more you lose the better you get,” Bailee said.
No matter the outcome, the girls wrestlers are strong and dedicated.
“My favorite part of being part of this team is the friendships I have made, the challenges I have overcome, the wins, the losses, and the many life skills I have learned on the mat. I am proud to show girls that they are capable of being strong women,” Victoria said.
Over the past weekend, the girls competed in their first PIAA postseason. For the first time in BAHS history, there were two PIAA regional qualifiers. Ella placed fourth, and Bailee placed fifth.
Carly took sixth, with Victoria finishing in the top eight. The girls finished thirteenth in the thirty three team field.
“Extremely proud of the 4 girls who embraced the challenges of the sport of wrestling. They will forever be the first girls team in Bellefonte Sports History. They did an amazing job and I am looking forward to what they can do next year,” Coach Maney said.
