Ray McQueen has been named head coach of the new girls wrestling program at Clear Lake High School.
McQueen, who served as an assistant to the CLHS boys program last year, said excitement and interest is high in the new girls sport. Currently, 11 high school and 14 middle school girls are participating.
“I’ve coached girls in this sport before, so it’s not new to me,” said McQueen. “Being able to coach by Coach (Evan) Johnson’s side last year and seeing how we both share the same vision of what we want for both programs made it an easy decision.”
McQueen said he had the opportunity to take a few Clear Lake girls to their first state tournament last year, which he called eye opening.
“I see a bright future for not only the sport, but for young women as well. This opens doors to many opportunities nationwide. We as coaches are always telling our male athletes what wrestling has to offer; the adversities, struggles, and pain we endure in this sport. It carries you through life, so why not teach these same things to the young ladies through the sport of wrestling? I am a firm believer in equal opportunities for all and see a bright future for girls wrestling here in Iowa. It’s growing rapidly and we’re only just getting started.”
Last year five CLHS wrestlers competed in the state championships sponsored by the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. Out of the three seniors, Haley Jackson and Chloe Williamson went on to wrestle at NIACC this year, becoming the first Clear Lake girls to continue their athletic and academics in college through wrestling.
McQueen was born and raised in Southern California and wrestled for Mt. Sac, a junior college, before transferring to Waldorf University to continue his academics and collegiate wrestling career. He has four years of experience as a head coach in California and two years of experience as a college graduate wrestling assistant. He returned to high school coaching last year as varsity boys assistant wrestling coach at Clear Lake.
“The last 10 years that I’ve been in Northern Iowa, I have been helping out to give back to the sport that made me who I am today,” said McQueen. In addition to time spent with Clear Lake athletes, he has volunteered with the Forest City youth program, Waldorf men’s and women’s teams, and training with some NIACC students.
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Board of Directors voted unanimously to sanction girls wrestling as the organization’s 11th sport; it was the 34th state association to sanction girls’ wrestling. The vote was made at the IGHSAU’s Jan. 12, 2022 board of directors meeting and was announced prior to the start of the championship round of the IWCOA Girls State Wrestling Tournament Saturday in Coralville. The first IGHSAU-sanctioned season will take place during the 2022-23 school year.
The first meet of the season for the Clear Lake junior varsity and varsity girls will take place Saturday, Nov. 19, at Decorah High School. The tournament will feature opponents from Crestwood, West Fork, Waukon, Denver Community Schools, North Fayette Community Schools, Osage, Cedar Falls, Postville, Western Dubuque, MFL Mar Mac, South Winneshiek, East Buchanan and Decorah. On Tuesday, Nov. 22, Mason City will host an invitational.
