FORT MADISON - The first season of state-recognized high school girls' wrestling could see a very interesting start for the Bloodhounds.
Head Coach Kyle Doherty, who's been around the Fort Madison wrestling culture, and some would say family, for most of his life, was selected last month by the school district to lead the inaugural program. Doherty is a two-time state qualifier for the Hounds and was a 2006 state runner-up his senior year at 125 pounds.
Doherty said he's very impressed with what he's seen so far. And said the Lady Hounds could be a force out of the gate.
"Actually, four days in I'm very impressed with how far the action and the physical part of wrestling has come for these girls," he said.
"They're starting to learn the dos and don'ts as far as rules and basic moves."
One of the girls on this first-year team has a name with a big pedigree on the mat.
Emily Steffensmeier is on the squad and she has multiple state champions in her family, including Uncle Gary Steffensmeier who was a runner up national champion for UNI, and cousin Harlan Steffensmeier. Her brother Ryan also qualified for state.
"You can see she already brings something to the mat, even though she's never wrestled competitively," Doherty said, "She will chime in.
"But it's slow rolling in what they can and can't do in certain positions. But they are receptive to it and that makes it easier for me."
Doherty said wrestlers with some experience and that could be competitive right off the bat would be Steffensmeier, Anna and Myla Blanchard, Hailey Kemper, Maddie Emmett, and Lexi Whaley.
He said four girls worked out with Derek Doherty in the spring and got a little bit of a jump start, but everyone else is kind of starting from scratch.
The Hounds are fielding 20 wrestlers in the first year and will compete in 13 of 14 weight classes.
"I'm surprised by that number, but then I'm not," Doherty said. "We're in a very good position to start a women's wrestling program here with our rich history and Coach (Ryan) Smith being the best coach in the state, and his staff. We're in the driver's seat for women's wrestling, I think.
"It just kind of makes sense."
Doherty said the rules are basically the same, but there are more guidelines on uniforms and how hair is handled and tied back.
"Those aspects of it are different than with boys, where they just come in and let it go," he said.
Jewelry is also an issue because some have had piercings for years and they just forget about them.
"Every practice I have to do a thorough check for jewelry to get those out,"
The girls have six meets scheduled, but Doherty said some of them have up to 14 schools in them. He said more and more area schools are popping up with women' teams and they hope to schedule more in the future, even this year.
He said the expectation for a first-year program is to get the foundation structured and then create a program that's moving forward.
"Being here at Fort Madison, whether a man or woman, that's exciting to just be able to wrestle," he said.
"We're in a fortunate position because of the resources we have around us. Jason Crooks has come in, and his daughter is wrestling too, but that's huge."
Crooks was multi-state champion for the Bloodhounds.
The first match is Nov. 21 in West Liberty and the second meet is the only home meet so far.
He said Anna Blanchard and Hailey Kemper will be fun to watch with the energy they have brought to practice the first week.
The weight classes for the first year of Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union start at 100 and then increase by five pounds to 140, then the weight jumps to 155, 170, 190, and 235.
Doherty said they will be able to fill all the weight classes but 235.
Girls from 7th grade to 12th grade will now be able to participate and compete through the IGHSAU with their own season. In the past, girls that wished to wrestle would compete with the boys.
Girl’s wrestling practice began earlier than their counterpart (October 31st) and will hold state championships February 2nd and 3rd.
Fort Madison has established a sharing agreement with Central Lee and Holy Trinity, with possibilities of hosting other athletes, if needed.
The Activities Office plans to add up to six more matches depending on availability.
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity for our girls," said FMHS Activities Director Jeff Lamb.
"Our current coaches have put us on the map for wrestling and I think Coach Doherty will do the same for the girls. I have high expectations for this program, and getting it started as soon as possible has been a priority for our office. Kyle is the perfect person to head this up and challenge these ladies to start a tradition of excellence.”
Lamb said the Fort Madison Activities Office is dedicated to providing opportunities for all students to be involved and to create opportunities for higher order thinking.
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