The Daphne girls’ wrestling team racked up national honors following their third state title in the last four seasons.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association recognized Trojan coaches as the Assistant Staff of the Year after two wrestlers finished as state runners-up and three took home individual championships. Joe Smith, Matt Gilson, Mathew Wells and Jason Reid represented the Trojans.

One of Daphne’s individual state champions, senior Emily Smith, was named the Alabama state winner of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. With success and standout performances, GPA and class rank as well as participation in character and community development events considered, it is awarded to all-around candidates.

“The winners of our Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award are an amazing group of young women who have set the highest standards for personal achievement, excelling in the classroom and on the wrestling mat while also providing leadership and service,” said NWHOF Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “We take great pride watching our TSHSEA winners as they continue their careers and achieve success at the collegiate and international level while continuing to excel academically and be positive role models who inspire young wrestlers.”

Now in its 10th year of presentation, the award is named after Tricia Saunders, the first woman inducted as a Distinguished Member of the NWHOF in 2006. Saunders was a four-time world champion and a United World Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee in 2011.

After the season, Smith represented the Daphne Trojans at the second-annual North-South All-Star wrestling dual hosted by the Alabama Wrestling Coaches Association. She was the second Trojan in as many years after Kalee Holder competed in the 165-pound division at the inaugural event.

Coaches recognized on national stage

With a top-two finish in the state the last four seasons, the Daphne coaching staff was recognized for their efforts as part of the NWCA’s High School Coach of the Year Awards Program.

Head coaches and assistant coaching staffs in boys’ and girls’ wrestling were recognized as winners advanced from state to regional levels en route to the national stage.

“These coaches epitomize dedication and passion, investing countless hours mentoring and guiding their wrestlers,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “They inspire and shape the future of the sport, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of their athletes.”

Girls’ wrestling on the rise

Officially aligned for AHSAA championship play next winter, women’s wrestling continues to be one of the fastest-growing high school sports according to USA Wrestling. With a 292% increase from 2018 to 2024, participation has gone from 16,562 athletes to over 65,000.

Alabama became one of 45 state high school athletic associations to approve girls’ wrestling as an official sport after Hawaii broke the barrier in 1998.

There’s proof in the college scene with over 170 intercollegiate women’s wrestling teams across NCAA, NAIA, junior college and community college levels. Although the NAIA hosted its first championship in 2023, the sport remains on Emerging Status for the NCAA but could gain approval as early as the 2025-26 season. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics reportedly voted to recommend sponsorship legislation and add a national collegiate women’s wrestling championship for Divisions I, II and III.