The sport of Little Guy Wrestling has been gaining in popularity in recent years, most notably among strong and scrappy young girls.

In Superior’s Western Montana Little Guy Wrestling Club, interest and participation have increased each year. As the season came to a close this past weekend a few competitors and their families look back fondly on their time on the mats.

Mom of one fledgling lady wrestler, Morgan Kelsey noted, “There was a lot of girl wrestlers. Every year there is more and more. I think all of the schools have girl wrestlers now. It used to be just a few here and there.

Kelsey’s daughter Karissa is a fifth grader at Superior Elementary School and it was her first year ever trying out wrestling. Even with a learning curve and being new to the sport, Karissa took first place at the Western Montana Finals for her age and weight bracket in Polson.

During the tournament, Karissa was the champion in the Middles 120-pound category. Her mom said, “She wrestled three times that day, winning her first match six points to two points. She won her second match with a pin in one minute and 35 seconds. She won the championship match with a pin in two minutes and 28 seconds.”

Not bad for a novice.

Karissa remarked, “I went from nothing to winning the Finals. I was kind of surprised but really happy and I felt strong.” One thing that helped give her an edge was, “I watched my brother wrestle for years and it inspired me to try the sport.”

“My favorite part is learning new things and pinning people,” shared Karissa.

Watching her daughter compete, Kelsey, stated, “I think the girls are wanting to show their strengths and confidence and show they're able to achieve anything. It teaches them strength and discipline.”

Charlie Crabb is the head coach for the Superior Little Guy Wrestlers, this year they had several students from St. Regis come and participate as well. Other young female contenders were Karissa Kelsey’s classmates, Olivia and Penelope White, and their big sister Ava.

Her father Ron White mentioned, “Ava was one of two girl wrestlers at Bitterroot Little Guy Wrestling and Ava was the first girl ever to wrestle with Clark Fork Little Guys. Ava has pinned more boys than she can remember!”

Her sisters, Olivia and Penelope he added, “Have wrestled against all male wrestlers since Kindergarten and this year was the first year where they wrestled Girls at least once at every meet they attended.”

White noted of the recent uptick in girls competing, “My thought is that Ava showed Clark Fork Wrestling what a girl wrestler is capable of and can accomplish amongst boys that outweigh her with technique, grit, and sheer determination and that all girls can follow suit hence the draw and welcoming spirit that is happening now.”

Ava had consistently placed first in the Little Guy Wrestlers State Open in Billings each spring. Remarkably, against all boys. Her mother AnnaMarie Guerrero-White recounted, “Until this year they had always had to wrestle boys because there were no girls to wrestle against. This is the first year they’ve had matches girl on girl but our 12 still wrestled boys this season. Wrestling all boys she won 4th in state championships a few years back - against all boys. Last year they wrestled in the Montana Open, 2,400 wrestlers and they all placed.”

Ava took first at every meet this year but did not compete at Qualifiers due to Ski Racing conflicts. In regards to next year, Karissa Kelsey stated, “I plan to wrestle in the future it's my favorite sport.”