'Why can't I?' launched Florida's first girls-duals wrestling team
Lily Calzadilla's determination to wrestle despite initial barriers led to the creation of Team Barracuda, Florida's first all-girls K-12 duals wrestling team based in Jensen Beach. The team, part of a youth-driven club founded by Coach Tom McMath, now includes six official members and draws athletes from multiple counties. It provides year-round training in both folkstyle and international wrestling styles, filling a gap for girls who previously lacked consistent opportunities. The program has grown from individual persistence into a pathway for younger female wrestlers to develop and compete.
- ▪Team Barracuda Wrestling Club, founded in 2006 by Coach Tom McMath, hosts Florida's first all-girls K-12 duals wrestling team.
- ▪Lily Calzadilla, then six years old, asked 'Why can't I?' when denied the chance to wrestle, sparking the eventual formation of the girls' team.
- ▪The team practices year-round at Jensen Beach High School and includes athletes from Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Palm Beach counties.
- ▪Girls on the team train in both folkstyle wrestling during fall and winter and international styles like freestyle and Greco-Roman in the spring.
- ▪The growth of the team has created a supportive environment where younger girls can look up to older peers and feel less intimidated competing against boys.
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