Girls Wrestling Q&A with Anayka Besco of Rose Hill & Nichole Moore of Nickerson
VYPE Magazine Managing Editor Matt Browning caught up with Anayka Besco of Rose Hill and Nichole Moore of Nickerson to discuss the world of girls wrestling and it’s future in Kansas high school sports.
VYPE: Girls wrestling is the No. 1 growing sport in the country. Why do you think that is?
Besco: I think it’s growing so much because it’s something new. It’s like a domino effect, if one girl does it she’s going to convince one or two of her friends to join as well. And they get their friends to join and then next thing you know, you have a whole team of girls. It’s another way for girls to compete in sports and even compete against boys, which you can’t do in most sports.
VYPE: What led you to getting involved in wrestling? What age did you start?
Besco: I started wrestling when I was eight. My dad had wrestled when he was younger and my younger brother started wrestling too. I tried out basketball but it wasn’t my thing. I decided to give wrestling a shot and actually hated it at first but kept with it, and eventually fell in love with it.
Moore: I started wrestling when I was around nine. I was shy and quiet and struggled with getting picked on. My mom wanted to call the school and try to fix it, but my dad said we need to find a way to build my confidence so I could resolve the problems I was having since there will always be bullying in some form. His solution was wrestling. It is a sport that builds strong character and mental toughness. It was also something we could do as a family. It was one practice for me and my brothers. Everyone was a wrestler and I was treated the same as the boys. The skills you learn from wrestling you can use throughout your whole life.
VYPE: What are/were some of the challenges you have faced being a female in a male-dominated sport?
Moore: I have been blessed that my teammates see me as a wrestler and not as a girl. I know guys do not like being beat by a girl; however, most simply see me as a wrestler and another opponent. I usually wrestle at a lower weight and I am built like my dad and I am very strong and physical when I wrestle- my teammates and opponents usually say I wrestle like a guy. However, the reason it was so important for women’s wrestling to pass is so that the girls can compete against other girls who have the same physical makeup. It gets dangerous at the higher weights in high school for girls to be competing against high school boys who have hit puberty and have testosterone.
VYPE: Wrestling is about toughness and dedication, but what are some other attributes the sport has taught you on and off the mat?
Besco: Wrestling has taught me how to deal with diversity. It has taught me how to be a leader and how to attack all challenges in my life and come out successful. It has taught me responsibility and dedication. And it has taught me that with hard work I can do anything I put my mind to.
Moore: Self responsibility, physical and mental toughness, how to rely on yourself and trust yourself in a tough situation, sportsmanship, respect, the importance of being a good teammate, but most importantly how to overcome obstacles through hard work and holding yourself accountable. In my opinion, wrestling is a great foundation for all athletes who do other sports. You would be surprised at how many professional athletes have wrestled. Everything that you can learn from wrestling can be applied to everyday life.
VYPE: If you were to try and recruit girls to wrestle, what would be your pitch to them?
Besco: My pitch would be to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. You’ll never know if you like it or not if you won’t even give it a chance. The worst thing to happen is that you decide you don’t like it but the best thing to happen is that you could find a new passion that will drive you to be a better person, athlete, and competitor in all stages of life.
Moore: Are you tired of doubting yourself, comparing yourself to others and feeling like you are not good enough? What if I told you there was a way to embrace who you are and become confident and self-sufficient? You will learn through hard work how to embrace your god given talents and be successful. You won’t feel like a victim if you know and can trust yourself and your skills. You will learn self-discipline and self-accountability. You will compete individually but will have team to train with and be cheering you on. The skills and mindset that you get from wrestling you will be able to carry through your whole life on and off the mat.
