(Oakland) Girls wrestling practice got underway at Riverside last week. The Bulldogs have a lot of athletes ready to get their feet wet on the first season of sanctioned girls wrestling in Iowa.
Taylor Frain will lead the program. She’s been an assistant with the boys team in recent years. “We have a really good number out. We are having 13 girls show up with a few more on the edge right now. Hoping to get them out. The more the merrier.”
As you might expect with any start up program, there is a wide range of experience among the roster. “We have a lot of first years out right now, so we have been going over the basics like how to take a double leg shot. Trying to focus on one move and not get too fancy. Just keep it simple and try to get the girls to dominate out on the mat and have good technique.”
Frain says six of the team members enter the season with some prior mat time. The Lady Dawgs have a fairly full calendar for competition. “I have 14 dates right now that I’m looking at going to. We are pretty heavy loaded on the front end our season trying to get our girls a lot of mat time to find what they need to work on.”
Coach Frain comments on the goals for their first season. “Keep them enjoying it. Keep coming in with a good attitude. Trust the process. We are going to push those girls day in and day out. Keep getting better and hope to get better at the end of the season.”
The first date of competition in the IGHSAU calendar for girls wrestling is Monday, November 14th.
Riverside coach Taylor Frain:
