The Penn Kingsmen Girls Wrestling team is ready to make history as they step onto the mat for their first official season under the IHSAA. As one of the first girls‘ wrestling programs in Indiana, the Kingsmen are ready to take to the mats in a competitive fashion and set the bar high, marking a continued historic time for girls‘ wrestling, and looking to secure a state title this year under a new head coach, Amy Hildebrandt.
Penn has won six state championships at the non-sanctioned Indiana High School Girls Wrestling Association level.
At the head of Kingsmen for the first IHSAA girls wrestling season team is Amy Hildebrandt, who brings into play a mix of passion, experience, and dedication. Having been an exceptional competitor in high school, Hildebrandt help pave a path for girls in wrestling. She now applies the knowledge to coaching, including years of coaching Penn‘s boys’ wrestling program. Her main coaching philosophy is a commitment to technique, mental toughness, and personal development as a wrestler and a student-athlete. She hopes to build a program in which athletic and personal growth go hand in hand.
Practices are in high gear as the Kingsmen work to build solid team chemistry and perfect their skills on the mat. Coach Hildebrandt has been putting the athletes through some tough sessions, both physically and mentally. The team consists of a variously talented young set of girls, most new to the competition level of wrestling, yet they all work together as a team to represent the Penn Kingsmen. The high school girls are very anxious for competition and are excited to see what this new season under a new head coach can bring them.
Beyond on-the-mat preparation, the Kingsmen make it their top priority to build a program that will set up long-lasting success. Confidence and resilience in the wrestlers is more important to Hildebrandt than the students becoming a better wrestler. The Kingsmen are finding some of the values in wrestling such as perseverance, discipline and teamwork. These lessons will help them continue long after they leave the mat.
The Penn community is rallying behind the Kingsmen and has shown great support as athletes get ready for their first match competitions. The recognition of girl’s wrestling as an IHSAA sport has been a long-anticipated and celebrated milestone in which Penn is proud to be one of the first teams recognized. Excitement is high with the season opener close at hand, and the Kingsmen are ready to showcase their hard work and dedication.
