The 2024-2025 wrestling season marks an exciting milestone for female wrestlers in Orchard Park and across New York State. Orchard Park is proud to announce the launch of a dedicated Varsity and Junior Varsity girls’ wrestling team. This team will operate independently from the boys’ wrestling team, offering a focused and specialized environment for female athletes.

For the first time, OPHS’ girls’ wrestling team will practice and compete exclusively against other female wrestlers throughout the winter sports season, embracing the "freestyle" format, also known as Olympic-style wrestling. This initiative aligns with the rapid growth of Girls Freestyle Wrestling, one of the fastest-growing sports for young women in New York State and nationwide.

Historically, female wrestlers in New York have participated on boys’ wrestling teams, training and competing alongside and against their male counterparts. While some schools will continue this practice, a groundbreaking change from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has spurred the creation of separate programs. NYSPHSAA will now host a sanctioned, girls-only State Championship in freestyle wrestling, which requires athletes to qualify through sectional championships dedicated exclusively to female competitors.

Orchard Park is among the first schools in Section 6 to establish a separate girls’ wrestling team. This decision ensures that female wrestlers can train and compete in the freestyle format throughout the entire season, in a space designed specifically for their growth and success.

Orchard Park is proud to be at the forefront of this exciting movement, providing expanded opportunities for female athletes to thrive and compete.