PHS’ newest wrestling addition
Powell High School’s wrestling team started Monday with 27 wrestlers for the 2017-18 season.
One of the new wrestlers is freshman Emma Karhu. She has been wrestling for 11 years and is the first female wrestler PHS has had in, well, forever.
“I’m looking forward to being on the team and being dedicated to the sport,” Karhu said. “I’m excited for the season.”
Wrestling is a grueling sport that involves major conditioning and physical endurance and strength.
The Panthers finished second overall at the state tournament last year, when Wyoming’s 3A High School Wrestling program had fewer than five female wrestlers.
Emma’s teammates know what type of challenges she will face.
“I think she’s going to have a tough time because boys will be more muscular, and in most cases bigger, and that’s something that she’s going to need to learn how to get around,” said Junior Reese Karst. “But at the same time she’s super flexible and fairly sound technically so I think she has her advantages and disadvantages.”
Many of the wrestlers on the team are optimistic about Emma wrestling this year.
“I think that it’s good that she is doing something that is more challenging than the usual and doing what she wants to do,” said sophomore Zane Cordes. “I think a challenge she might face is more negativity from others than she would have dealt with in middle school wrestling. But she’s a good wrestler so we’ll see how things turn out.”
Added junior Cameron Lamb: “It’s not really different having a girl wrestler. She trains hard like the rest of us and she really likes to compete. So I mean, people forget she’s in the room a lot because she works with us as hard as everyone else does.
“I think transitioning into the high school competition and wrestling exclusively with guys may be hard at first; it’s hard for every freshman to get used to it. It’s a way different animal than middle school. I don’t think she will have a hard time competing once she gets into the swing of things because she is a true, hard-working wrestler.”
Emma isn’t too worried about size differences or strength; she’s simply ready to prove herself and become a better wrestler.
“It might be a little more difficult when it comes to weighing in and possibly with upper body muscle, boys accept the fact that I’m a girl wrestler,” said Emma. “I’m dedicated to the sport and intend to put the work in to be better.”
The first wrestling meet of the season will be in Powell on Dec. 8-9.
