The Oglethorpe County girls wrestling program has entered this season with modest numbers, a young roster and a clear theme set by coach Josh Austin: growth.
Austin, in his fourth year guiding the program, said the team’s progress last winter set the foundation for what he wants to build. Most wrestlers arrived with little background in the sport, but still learned faster than he expected.
“Their aptitude for learning the sport stood out the most,” Austin said. “Most of the girls didn’t have any experience, and the rate at which they picked it up surprised me.”
That quick learning curve helped the Lady Patriots finish in the top six at the state duals last year, an impressive result for a Class A school in a system where teams are grouped into only two statewide divisions.
Unlike the boys program, which competes against schools of similar size, the girls must face programs from the AA and AAA classifications with deeper rosters.
Austin said that gap shapes almost every decision he makes.
The team fields 14 wrestlers, well below the 20-23 that Austin views as a full roster. The smaller numbers force athletes to shift weight classes, often with little notice, to prevent forfeits.
Several are taking on new roles to cover spots vacated by graduates.
“Some girls will have to wrestle up a weight class or two, and some are having to cut weight to fill open classes,” Austin said. “We’re trying to manage the expectations of where they’ll wrestle each week and get them in the mindset to show up ready to face whoever they have to face.”
Still, he noted the locker room’s daily culture has solidified.
Experienced wrestlers have stepped into leadership roles, easing the transition for newcomers and helping practices run smoothly even as skills vary across the roster.
“The girls are such a good team,” Austin said. “The experienced girls are willing, ready and able to coach out the new girls. It’s been a true team effort.”
Junior Alyson Woods said that shared responsibility keeps the group connected.
“We all help coach the younger girls and lead them to where we were last year,” Woods said.
Woods placed at state last season and aims to improve both her individual finish and the team’s standing this season. She said her expectations are simple, but firm.
“Just try our best and don’t give up,” she said.
Austin’s long-term goals center less on winning and more on building a lasting program. With girls wrestling rapidly expanding across Georgia and the nation, he expects local participation to rise.
“In the future, I want to have the numbers to keep growing the team, compete throughout the lineup and avoid forfeits,” he said. “If we only had to compete with single-A programs, we’d be near the top, but the girls aren’t intimidated by bigger schools. Once they get on the mat, they’re just trying to beat who’s in front of them.”