Amanda Rink, Editor
In Iowa high school wrestling is a proud tradition, and a new chapter is being written by the girls’ wrestling teams throughout the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (CGD) school district. The high school team is led by former wrestler Coach Emma Gomez, this shared team between CGD and Webster City is more than a group of athletes; it is an inspiration for young and seasoned women across our community.
Coaching with a Bigger Purpose
For Coach Gomez, wrestling is more than a sport, it is a lifelong passion. She works as an ophthalmic technician by day, but her evenings and weekends are dedicated to shaping a new generation of wrestlers. “To me, wrestling is more than just a sport,” Gomez explains. “It teaches great life skills. It teaches athletes about resilience, dedication, and so much more.”
From intense practices to traveling for tournaments, Gomez is fully invested in the girls’ success. “I put in a lot of hours, to say the least,” she shared with The Wright County Monitor. Her goal isn’t just to build strong athletes but to instill a mental toughness that will serve the young women she coaches beyond the mat.
The Power of Collaboration
The partnership between Webster City and CGD predates Gomez’s tenure as coach, but she immediately recognized the value of the shared team. By combining resources and athletes, the two schools have created a powerful and competitive team. “It is amazing to have them combined,” she says. “It gives all the girls an opportunity to push each other, especially those in the same weight class.”
Despite any logistical challenges of coordinating athletes from two different counties, the team has combined seamlessly. “It is almost as if there was a piece of the puzzle missing until they got united,” Gomez said. She considers the team’s friendship and dedication to the sport for their strong team bond.
One athlete, CGD Freshman Marlee Thompson, shows this dedication, enduring long drives to and from practice in Webster City. Gomez is grateful for such dedication, acknowledging that “the amount of time we spend in a car driving back and forth is not easy!”
A Typical Day on the Mat
Wrestling demands both physical and mental toughness, and the Webster City-CGD girls are rising to the challenge. Practices focus on learning techniques, improving conditioning and mental resilience, “I definitely push them hard when it comes to conditioning,” Gomez explained. “We’re not only striving to be strong physically but mentally too.”
The team’s hard work is paying off, even as a young squad competing against seasoned opponents. Gomez shared, “Although we are a young team, we’ve been competing well with upperclassmen.”
The Rise of Girls’ Wrestling in Iowa
In recent years, girls’ wrestling has experienced explosive growth in Iowa, and Gomez had a front-row seat to this evolution. “I wrestled before it was ‘cool’ for girls to wrestle,” she reflects. “When I wrestled, it was not just to compete but for a purpose. That purpose has been achieved with the sport growing like it has.”
The addition of girls’ wrestling teams in high schools is a game-changer, offering opportunities for young women to pursue a sport that once felt out of reach. It also challenges traditional gender norms, showing that girls can excel in physical and demanding sports, just like boys.
Local Wrestler’s Experience
Marlee Thompson, CGD’s only female representative on the shared high school team, is no stranger to excelling in physical activity. Coming from a farming family with two brothers, she is used to standing up for herself. And although Thompson appears dainty, she is a strong opponent on the mat, with a 19-8 record with 15 pins and 2 techs.
On top of this, she also holds the title of “first pin” in program history against HD-CAL’s Marlee Maas. Thompson also attends Clarion’s Team Valley, coached by Carl Valley, when her schedule allows it. Her wins are a clear byproduct of the work she puts in, Thompson clocks at least 12 hours a week of practice.
Marlee started wrestling in 5th grade, and in 6th grade, her Dad, Brandon Thompson, felt she was ready for tournaments. “I quickly fell in love with the sport,” she shared.
“We are very proud of her hard work and dedication to the sport,” Marlee’s Mom, Nora, shared.
When we asked Marlee how she felt about being an inspiration to younger girls looking to wrestle, she answered frankly, “I wish everyone would realize how happy it makes me to inspire younger girls. I hope I will always be an inspiration so we can grow this program further.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
The impact of the Webster City-CGD girls’ wrestling teams goes beyond wins and losses. They’re role models for younger girls who may never have considered wrestling before. “I think younger girls are looking up to all of them for sure,” Gomez says. “It’s eye-opening to (younger girls) that girls can do physical sports just like the boys.”
Reagan Hill, a 10-year-old CGD Fourth Grader, is in the CGD youth wrestling program, “I feel proud of myself when I push through. Yes, I feel strong but smart about my decisions of what moves I choose in a match.” She shared that while her Dad, Kelly Hill, first inspired her to begin wrestling, Marlee Thompson, who happens to be her older cousin, inspires her to keep going when things get hard.
“It makes me want to be just like her when I grow up and keep wrestling,” she shared with The Wright County Monitor. Reagan’s Mom, Paige, shared that Reagan practices mostly with boys.
“We’re proud of her when she gets back on the mat after a tough loss, and the fight and grit she has during matches,” said Paige.
As the interest in wrestling grows among young women, it is fair to say that the CGD girl’s wrestling team will be growing in the coming years. The CGD girls’ middle school wrestling team has a roster of six. One of those on the team is Chantel Nosbush.
Chantel, 13, is in the 8th grade at the CGD Middle School. “I wanted to try out for wrestling because I thought it looked fun and challenging.” With her brother’s encouragement, Nosbush joined the team to “prove to myself that I can handle tough things.” It is fair to say she has proved this with impressive stats of 7-2 with 7 pins and 2 falls.
She realizes that her moves mean just as much on the mat as off, “Strength isn’t just about being big or physical; it’s also about being smart, determined, and willing to work hard. Wrestling shows that girls can be just as tough and skilled as boys. I do feel like I’m helping fight those stereotypes by wrestling because every time I step on the mat, I’m proving that girls can do this too and do it well,” Nosbush shared.
The skills Nosbush is honing run deep through her family. With two uncles wrestling and a brother, she has a few cheerleaders. But none more so than her parents, Jesse and Linzey Nosbush. “I’ll always be her biggest cheerleader, no matter what she does, but knowing she’s chosen something that means so much to our family makes it even more special. I’m beyond excited to support her every step of the way, just like I did with my
brothers,” Linzey shared with The Wright County Monitor.
This pride isn’t limited to athletes or their parents. The success of the young woman taking part in the sport of wrestling is a point of pride for the broader school community. CGD Superintendent Joseph Nelson shared:
“Given Clarion’s long-standing role as the cradle of Iowa High School Wrestling, growing our Girls program truly feels like the next natural step. Our current numbers aren’t where they’ll be in a few years but I’ve certainly been impressed by the commitment and dedication of our CGD MS and HS Girls. Hosting our own CGD Cowgirl Wrestling Team is our ultimate long-term goal. Given the tremendous support we have for wrestling in our school district, I truly believe this goal will be achieved much sooner rather than later.”
Coach Gomez hopes the team’s journey continues to inspire: “I want younger girls to know that whatever they believe in, they can achieve it as long as they work hard,” she says.
