Girls high school wrestling continues to grow across Wyoming, and for senior Brooke Schwab, the sport has become more than just competition—it has shaped her confidence, mindset, and future goals.
Schwab began wrestling her freshman year, right as girls wrestling was officially sanctioned in Wyoming. What started as curiosity quickly turned into commitment. “What first got me interested in wrestling was that I heard girls wrestling was being sanctioned in Wyoming my freshman year of high school,” Schwab said. “I was interested and I wanted to try it out. When I did I realized this was something I wanted to pursue and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Now a senior, Schwab has become a leader on and off the mat, representing what dedication and perseverance look like in a sport that demands both physical and mental strength. She emphasizes that wrestling challenges athletes in ways few other sports do. “I would say the biggest challenge I’ve faced in this sport is the battle against myself,” she said. “I always hear my coaches say wrestling is 90% mental/emotional and 10% physical. I really believe that to be true.”
Through wrestling, Schwab says she has developed confidence and self-respect that didn’t come easily at first. “When I first started I had very little confidence in myself,” she said. “I learned through this sport immense confidence and self-respect. Over time I had to learn to rely on my work and previous training, which honestly takes a lot of self-reliance and trust within yourself.”
That trust paid off earlier this season when Schwab earned one of the biggest wins of her career. “My favorite match or moment was at a tournament earlier this year where I won a match against the #2 ranked gal in the state,” she said. “That was a really important moment for me because it allowed me to see that the work I had put in during the offseason paid off.”
Her wrestling experiences extend beyond the high school season as well. This past summer, Schwab and her teammate Settelly Roberts attended a wrestling camp in Southern California. “We had workouts and runs on the beach and pool as well as meeting world famous female wrestlers,” she said, calling it one of her favorite and most memorable experiences in the sport.
Looking ahead, Schwab hopes wrestling will remain part of her life after graduation. “I would love to continue wrestling after high school if I can,” she said. “I love the sport of wrestling so much and I would really love to see what college wrestling is like.”
Balancing academics, athletics, and everyday life isn’t always easy, but Schwab has found her own rhythm. “Honestly I have no clue, somehow all the busyness and chaos just falls into place,” she said. Morning workouts help her stay focused, even when balancing practice and school becomes challenging.
For girls who may be unsure about joining the sport, Schwab has a clear message. “Hard work pays off!” she said. “Wrestling is a YOU and YOU only sport… There are ups and downs, highs and lows. Wrestling kicks you in the butt sometimes but you have to learn how to get back up and keep working just like life.”
As girls wrestling continues to grow, athletes like Brooke Schwab are helping pave the way—showing that courage, hard work, and belief in yourself can lead to success both on the mat and beyond.
