A new varsity sport will make its debut at Knoxville High School this winter. Girls Wrestling will be in its first season of competition for the Panthers. Knoxville has had girls wrestle for the last two seasons, but it was in a sharing agreement with Pella. While the girls had a great experience wrestling for the Dutch, they expressed an interest to Knoxville Activities Director Ryan Paulsen about starting a program under the Panthers banner. After the school board gave approval last spring, the job was to get a program put together. Paulsen tells KNIA/KRLS Sports one of the best benefits of adding another sport to Knoxville is that more student-athletes can participate in an extracurricular activity.

Paulsen: “Last year we had three girls the year before we had 2, this year we have 17. It is a chance for kids to practice those life skills, to be with friends, and those activities provide such a great platform to do.”

Paulsen adds the cooperation with the boys wrestling program and middle school programs has been outstanding knowing they have just one wrestling room for practice. Doug Hatch, who was the boys program head coach for several seasons before stepping down was hired as Knoxville’s first girls wrestling head coach last spring. Listen for an interview with Hatch to preview the season on this week’s Hy-Vee Radio Coaches Corner and a full interview with Paulsen on a future Today’s Lely Radio Sports Page on KNIA/KRLS.