http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2320537

Can it happen in Kansas?

All I have to say is either that girl is TOUGH, or Alaska wrestling is weak!

When I coached at Manhattan, we had a girl (Kera Pemberton) who wrestled. She was a women's national champ as a senior in high school and a very good wrestler, but not anywhere close to state champ material. She did wrestle varsity some her junior and senior year and I would say she had around a .500 varsity record, maybe a little better.

I can attest to the fact the Michaela Hutchison is a tough gal. About 5 years ago she showed up at a camp and was holding her own against boys back then.

The Hutchison family has a long tradition of wrestling in Alaska and have traveled to the Tulsa Nationals.

Her father is an assistant coach at her high school. Her older sister placed third at the high school state tournament in 2000(?).

Her older brother Eli won his first (of four) state championship in 2003 at 112 lbs., won his second in 2004 at 119 lbs., won his third state championship at 135 lbs. in 2005 and defended that title at the same tournament where his younger sister won.

There was an older brother who also won at least one state championship!

Alaska Individual State Records
2004--Eli Hutchison, Skyview, set the single season Win record with 53-1.

2004--Eli Hutchison, Skyview, set the takedown record with 302.

Deanna Rix, a young lady from Maine who participated in the boys division at Fargo last year and lost in the Maine High School State Championship finals at 130 lbs. in double overtime.

Rix is a two time Junior National Champion at Fargo in the girls division and injury defaulted in the boys division.

No doubt these girls are the exception and not the rule. Let me go on record right here and now. There's no way high school girls should be allowed on the mat with hs boys. It's bad for the sport. It could easily ban wrestling in a state with a big sexual harassment law suit. It's risky to have a girl roll around on the mat for 2 hrs a day with guys, all with raging teenage hormones. Do we put girls on the boys bball, soccer, baseball, etc. teams? No and wrestling is requires constant physical contact. I have no problem with females wrestling other females. I coached a girl on my hs team and it was extremely awkward for her. A few guys wanted to drill with her every chance they got. I found out later that it wasn't all about helping her out. She stopped drilling with the boys and used the takedown machine for awhile and then quit. It was a relief to me when she did.