In today’s sports world, the boundary for men’s and women’s sports continues to get blurry whether it’s the NFL practice field, NASCAR and beyond, trickling down to the Fairfax County Public Schools this year with McLean High School graduate Kaelyn MacKay on the wrestling mat and a myriad of girls trying the sport that was once a strictly male thing.
In 2024, FCPS started varsity girls’ wrestling as a high school sport and now it’s in all the high schools.
“When I found out my junior year there would be a women’s wrestling team at my high school, I wanted to give it a shot,” said Kaelyn, who had been competing in Brazilian jiu jitsu since she was 9 years old. “I went from being a leader in jiu jitsu, knowing everything, all the moves, to a complete novice. Since they’re both grappling sports, the transition was similar enough that I took to wrestling and discovered I loved it too,” she said.
As far as wrestling and the close contact, “I don’t really think about it that much,” she said.
Her father was a different story, especially practicing with the boys. “My dad was not too excited by that,” she said. Kaelyn started contact sports with jiu jitsu, a form of martial arts because her mom wanted her to do some sort of self-defense sport. And now wrestling. Both helped her build confidence, she said.
A goal at FCPS is to ensure that every student feels safe, supported, included, and empowered, which is part of the school system’s FY2023-2030 Strategic Plan. The plan aims to ensure that each and every student reaches their greatest potential, county information stated. Although they didn’t mention sports as a part of this plan, Superintendent Michelle Reid did go over the five goals of the plan which starts with a strong start to school, feeling safe and supported, achieving academic growth, equitable access and opportunity, and leading for tomorrow's innovation.
Somewhere in there is a spot for girls wrestling and Kaelyn is happy to have the opportunity that she excelled in.
Other female FCPS grads going on to noted sports this year include Ashley Lopez at Lewis High School, and Oakton High School’s wrestler Kate Crockett who is also attending Ithaca College in the fall.
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