'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 Florida's first all-girls duals wrestling team, Team Barracuda, based in Jensen Beach. The team, part of a youth-driven club founded by Coach Tom McMath, now includes six official girls and draws athletes from multiple counties. It provides year-round training in both folkstyle and international wrestling styles, filling a gap for female wrestlers lacking school programs. The growth of the team has inspired younger girls and shifted perceptions about who can participate in the sport.
- ▪Team Barracuda Wrestling Club, founded in 2006 by Coach Tom McMath, is based at Jensen Beach High School and now includes Florida’s first all-girls duals wrestling team.
- ▪Lily Calzadilla, who began wrestling at age six after asking 'Why can't I?', was instrumental in launching the girls' team through her persistence.
- ▪The girls' team practices year-round and competes in both folkstyle and international styles, including freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
- ▪Athletes come from Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Palm Beach counties, especially those without formal girls' wrestling programs at their schools.
- ▪The team supports female wrestlers during the offseason when many other programs do not offer training opportunities for girls.
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