At Lincoln Middle School in 2026, female athletes are speaking out about the challenges they face while competing in male-dominated sports, facing stereotypes, and the pressure to prove themselves to teammates, coaches, and fans.
There are many male-dominated sports out there and a world of opportunities for young athletes, but there is no doubt that girls playing certain sports can be a challenge or seen as unconventional. People often see a girl playing a more male-dominated sport and have a lot to say about it. This makes it increasingly harder for young girls to even consider the possibility of playing a male-dominated sport. There are so many opportunities playing sports like wrestling or flag football as a girl. There is so much you can learn from playing a non-traditional sport, things like leadership, perseverance, and resilience. “I’m just happy that wrestling is becoming one of the fastest-growing sports for females and that more people are giving it a try and getting out of their comfort zones to try a more male-dominated sport like wrestling,” – Liz Thomas, 7th grade, LMS Wrestler.
Another challenge is just having to deal with your peers daily. A lot of the time, your peers can judge you solely on the fact that you play a traditionally male sport. Being on a co-ed team can be difficult to prove yourself. Some coaches will only want the boys to be in the starting lineup, so most of the time female athletes must prove that they deserve a spot. But it can also be really fun playing non-traditional sports for girls. You can make unexpected friends and find beauty and kindness in the most unlikely of places. “There are some boys at school who have asked why I do it and thought it was weird. And for a long time, it bothered me, but after a while I learned that I just have to be comfortable with me playing the sport.” – Aslinn Waters, 7th grade, LMS Wrestler.
We need to make male-dominated sports more accessible for the female community: more and more girls are discovering that they can go beyond the stereotypes of the athletic world. Support all the female athletes at LMS or talk to coaches about equal opportunity for all. So, help make it better for the current and future female athletes, not just at Lincoln, but everywhere.
