I am a 15yr old girl and need to know exactly how to start preparing for wrestling next year.

Question
I am a 15 year old girl and I really want to become a wrestler at my high school next year. I want to know if you could suggest to me any good wrestling camps I could go to over the summer near the SW Virginia region to get a feel of it because I have never wrestled before.. the closest I have come is going to some wrestling matches. I know I need to start training and putting on some muscle but I don't know exactly what exercises to do. And also I am kind of worried about me being the only girl (that I know of) in my district because I know guys my age are much stronger than me and I don't want to be "handled". But I don't know if sex even matters to a guy? Or if guys just look at girls the same as boys as 'competition is competition'. And I want to know if you think the guys will "accept" me because I don't think I can be on a team where nobody wants me. And when I told my mom about it she said that she tried it once... but just attended a few practices but couldn't really get into it then proceeded to tell me that I wouldn't be able to handle it... because I am kind of girly but I do have the potential to be tough. So please help me in anyway you can.

Answer
Hey Heather,

Thank you for the question. I want you to know that stepping into wrestling at 15yrs old, as a rookie, is a formidable task, male or female. You will need to start strength training with exercises such as pull-ups, rope-climbing, squats, as well as, flexibility development and cardio routines such as sprints, and hill climbing. Other wrestlers will respect you if you can stick it out through what will be very tough training sessions. You will have to adapt from being girly-soft, and take on an appearance of mental toughness, inside and out. If you can hold your own without whining, you will be accepted. I would recommend the Granby wrestling camp which I believe is still based in Virginia - also Virginia Tech offers a good camp. You will want to get down to the best weight possible - the lighter-the better as boys get stronger as the weight class gets higher. You will want to maintain high energy levels based on nutrition and hydration, muscle will take care of itself. Check out my websites for both (http://opp.sunrider.com/healthessentials (Sunrise & Vita-Shakes) & http://rmcdonald7.qhealthzone.com) Perfect Water & EXS Energy drinks. Also, contact the NHSCA (nhsca.com) which is an organization dedicated to helping wrestlers achieve their respective dreams. Talk to your highschool wrestling coach as well, and see where you can fit in. Above all, believe in yourself, and don't give up. Good luck to you and keep me posted on your progress!

Yours in the Quest for Gold,

Coach Rae-Rae