The Bristol Bay Girls Have Won the Wrestling Title After Fighting For Their Spot on the Mat
Dillingham wasn’t always a great place for girls to wrestle.
In order to be allowed to join in the early 2000s, they had to petition the school board. The girls were now wrestling against boys. These barriers were overcome by girls continuing to wrestle in Bristol Bay.
Kiley Clouse (18 years old) has been named Dillingham’s first state girls wrestling champion. Aileen Lester, Newhalen, won her third state title. Both women wrestled in Division II of the ASAA State Wrestling Tournament Anchorage.
Clouse defeated Jessailah Thammavongsa of South Anchorage, the undefeated grappler. In the third period, she won the match 4-0. The crowd cheered as the referee lifted her arm high. For a moment, Clouse didn’t believe it.
She stated, “I wanted it so bad for so many years and finally it came true.” I was proud of myself and overwhelmed. I began to cry on the mat immediately and then I got up to hug everyone and continue crying.
This was a long-awaited victory. Clouse was unable to compete in her sophomore season due to the pandemic. Clouse also suffered an injury last year, making it difficult for Clouse compete.
There were fewer female wrestlers than males so the girls did not have the same weight classes. Clouse was a female wrestler in the 189 weight division up until this year. This meant she was 20 pounds lighter than some of her competition.
She was able to wrestle at 165 this season, and she had a lot confidence.
She stated, “It’s the first time I wrestle girls who actually weigh me.”
William Savo was a Dillingham Wolverine student when the first girls began to petition the school for permission to let them compete in the 2000s.
It’s quite ironic. Sarah Evans and Kim McCambly were my eighth-grade classmates. They wanted me to wrestle in eighth grade. He stated that the school board would not allow them to.
The girls asked the school to change its policy. Savo said that they were competing with boys when they joined. The team was not friendly.
He stated, “Boys don’t accept women very well.” I was part. Nobody wants to be different. They were both competitive in high school and middle school. They were the ones who got Dillingham’s career started. Other girls have wrestled throughout their lives.”
Jack Savo was an assistant coach who wrestled for Dillingham in the 1990s. In 2002, he returned to the sport. He said that girls wrestling was a new phenomenon.
He stated, “It wasn’t a common idea and it was rare to have a high-competitive and contact sport like wrestling coed.” However, I believe that the drive of the young women who initiated the drive has brought us to this point.
Dillingham’s team and Alaska wrestling have come a long way since then. In 2014, Alaska hosted the first state-sanctioned girls’ wrestling tournament. Jack Savo said that three female wrestlers were brought in by the state to assist the girls team. One of them was part of the first U.S. women’s Olympic freestyle team.
There is increasing interest. Willie Savo said that there is a strong middle-school girl population, and that 21 elementary girls are already registered to wrestle this season.
Wrestling is the fastest-growing sport in the country, both at the high school level and at the college level. According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, women have increased in wrestling from 804 to over 31,600 since 1994.
Aileen Lester (18), of Newhalen, is another state champion from Bristol Bay. She hails from a small community close to Iliamna Lake. Aileen Lester from Newhalen, which is a small community near Iliamna Lake was also crowned the state champion in 2020, and 2021. Last year, she was named outstanding state wrestler. Since kindergarten, Lester has wanted to wrestle. In sixth grade, her parents allowed her to wrestle. She was not happy.
She claimed that all the boys thought she was crazy for saying something to them in class. “I can still remember being the king of the mat, and kickin’ all the boys about my weight. “I was like “Yeah! Absolutely, this is what I’m doing.”
Aileen Lester from Newhalen fought her way into third place at the 2022 ASAA Tournament, December 16-17, 2022.
She stated, “It was difficult because at the beginning I didn’t feel like a part of a team.” It was like I started to get some wins. I won matches, tournaments, and beat some men. That made me more respected.
Lester said that wrestling with girls and boys is very different. She must employ different strategies depending on who she is fighting.
She stated that girls have greater control over their hips, and more flexibility. Guys, if they have a good half-pin, you can turn them. With a combination of pinning and turning, you can turn them. They can do it. It is possible to still achieve good pinning combinations for girls, and they will find a way out.
Lester said that she convinced her wrestling friends and her little sister to join her in the ring. She loves training with other girls.
Kiley Clouse is Dillingham’s Kileyclouse. She has been wrestling her entire life. From making friends to learning new moves, and being part the Dillingham wrestling club.
“Wrestling makes me happy.” “Wrestling is today” is my mantra when I feel sad or down. It’s okay. It’s my favorite thing.
This was the last high school season for seniors. In January, middle school begins winter practice.
