3 Things I Learned Growing in a Male Dominated Sport

There are so many little nuances that shape women who grow up in a male-dominated sport.

Here are 3 key concepts I learned growing up in the wrestling world, that not only shaped me, but made me the woman I am today. I hold no resentment towards them, as they were not overt; but as I continue to support young female athletes, I am very cognizant of them.

1. I often felt like I had to prove myself to get the attention I deserved.

   Early on, I felt like I had to prove something right away. I felt the need to hit the drills perfectly, win every round, and work harder to get noticed. It wasn't pressure anyone else was putting on me directly, but rather it was how I felt being one of the few girls in the room.

   What changed was realizing I didn't need one big moment or many accolades to prove I belonged. All I needed to do was consistently show up, do the work, and let my progress speak over time. I want young women see this ability to handle pressure as a strength, rather than something to be angry about. This pressure creates strong work ethic, resiliency, and determination.

   
   

2. There was a consistent and underlying pressure to always be tough.

   In wrestling, and honestly in most competitive sports, there is a quiet pressure to push through everything. I used to think being tough meant ignoring pain, sucking up my feelings, training through injuries, and never stepping back. However, things like concussions, joint injuries, mental health struggles, or ligament issues don't just disappear because you push harder. These things can stay with you long after the season ends, if you do not respect them early. What I learned is that real toughness is advocating for yourself, speaking up, and taking the time to recover properly; even when you feel pressure from yourself or others to keep going. Recovery is not quitting, it's protecting your future in the sport.

   
   

3. Managing weight changes during your monthly cycle takes time, dedication, and planning.

   This was something that no one really talked about. Some weeks the scale felt easy to manage, and other weeks it felt like by body was a big puff ball no matter what I ate or drank.

   At first I thought I was doing something wrong, but later in my university career I realized that it was a normal hormonal fluctuation, not my inability to say no to a cookie. What helped was planning ahead, tracking patterns, and giving myself more grace during those weeks instead of panicking. Long term consistency with proper fuel mattered more than short term fluctuations on the scale.

   
   

If you're a young female athlete who is working through any 3 of these, please remember that you are not alone. Often times challenges like these make us stronger, but they do not have to be unspoken.