PERRY, Ohio — On this International Women's Day we're highlighting a Perry wrestler, who at just 11 years old is breaking boundaries and winning titles once only held by boys.
Carolyn Geckler is in 5th grade and has been wrestling for five years. Traditionally, wrestling has always been viewed as male competition but in recent years girls are becoming much more involved.
It is really taking off in Ohio, while not OHSAA sanctioned the coaches association held the first girls state tournament ever last year. Currently 25 high schools have wrestling programs with hundreds of girls taking part. Carolyn is hoping that when she reaches high school, she will be wrestling for state titles.
Already collecting title after title while traveling the country, she is a six-time All-American, four-time state champion (one boys, three girls) and a two-time national champion.
Carolyn just wanted to be like her big brother, Marshall, also a superstar on the mat, he is 14 and a two-time state champ.
“Marshall just started wrestling, and then I was in like kindergarten when I started going, 'Can I wrestle?' Mom and dad were like, 'No way.' But then whenever I got into first grade, they started to let me wrestle.”
It is fortunate they did because this brother and sister have become quite the team. Winning OAC boys divisional wrestling state titles, this is the first time ever that a brother and sister have accomplished that feat.
MORE HEADLINES: