HOUSTON – There’s no girls wrestling program at the Southwest Preparatory Conference private school level in state, so Episcopal’s Thalia Vogelsang competed with the guys - and medaled while doing so.
“It’s a mental sport,” the sophomore said. “And it took until about this year to have the confidence that I have now on the mat and to perform well.”
When Vogelsang e-mailed Episcopal coaches as a freshman to see if she could wrestle amongst the boys, the reaction was short and sweet -- and supportive.
“Let’s go,” said Steve Leisz, Episcopal’s wrestling coach.
This season, she competed in the 113-pound class, finishing 22-5 and was a big part of Episcopal’s runner-up finish at state this past weekend.
It was there that the rising star finished third overall individually at state -- the first female to ever medal in SPC history.
“The hardest thing to get a wrestler to do is really trust their technique,” Leisz said. “And she trusts it.”
“I guess I kind of broke the status quo of the SPC championship,” Vogelsang said. “I’m hoping that opens up the door to bring more women into the private-school sector of the sport.”