Girls’ wrestling taking off at City High

IOWA CITY — The Iowa City High girls’ wrestling team is taking off.

This marks the first season for the program and the team already is having success — and a lot of fun.

“Each day the girls come to practice with a smile on their faces, work hard the entire time and leave with that same smile, which makes the job of coaching them very special,” Coach Jeff Koenig said.

The team hosted its first meet on Monday and had three winners in a meet at Cedar Rapids Prairie — freshman Nina Kuhlmann, junior Claire Brown and sophomore Audrey Sexton.

“I was so excited when I found out that City was introducing a women’s wrestling team,” freshman Natalia Flack said. “I used to wrestle with the boys during the summer, but am glad there is a women’s team.”

Flack has been wrestling since eighth grade.

“I am so proud of my teammates coming out for wrestling,” she said.

Koenig and Ryan Ahlers are coaching the girls’ team.

“The interest for girls’ wrestling in the community and state has been increasing over the past few years,” City High athletics director Phillip Hansen said. “We know we had some girls interested and needed to find a way to get them involved in the sport.”

The coaches hope to grow the program and encourage girls to get involved. Practices are open to all ages, including girls from Southeast Junior High. Practice are held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

“For girls to grow up knowing that wrestling is a winter sport option for them in high school is really exciting and we hope to build a program that can compete with the best and win championships,” Ahlers said.