Halle Opat Looks to Further Assist the Growth and Expansion of Girls Wrestling in Nebraska
Nebraska wrestler helps fight for girls wrestling to sanction
By Wrestle Like A Girl | May 21 2020
Today, Thursday, May 21st, the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) will vote whether girls wrestling becomes: a fully sanctioned sport, a division sport, or not pass for either for the state. Nebraska is one of the 27 states left to sanction the sport for girls.
Halle Opat is a McPherson, Kansas native who moved to Nebraska with her family six years ago. An incoming Millard West High School Freshman this fall, her wrestling experience extends a little under a year as she became the first girl to join the George Beadle Middle School wrestling team this past 2019-20 season. Opat’s passion and drive to grow opportunities for girls in her state through the sport of wrestling surpasses all.
Her admiration for wrestling is untamed. Coming across fellow Kansas native wrestler, Mya Kretzer, her love for the sport only grew stronger. “I always thought it would be cool to try and when I read the Washington Post article on Mya Kretzer, I realized, ‘Wow. I really could wrestle too.’ So I went after it,” Opat stated.
Before joining her middle school wrestling team, Halle held a passion to strengthen awareness for girls wrestling and became driven to have Nebraska sanctioned. Since then, she’s been readily involved with the Pennsylvania girls wrestling sanctioning movement attending regular zoom meetings and continuing to learn from fellow wrestlers who desire the same opportunity.
Halle knew from the beginning her decision to be a wrestler on an all-boys team was going to present it’s share of challenges, yet like all female trailblazers, she prevails. “Recently, I’ve learned to stick up for myself a lot more,” Opat continues. “When I hear my name mentioned in a conversation in relation to me wrestling, I’m not afraid to chime in and defend myself. My [self-confidence] has increased.”
Halle’s certainly not alone on this journey. “I have a lot of support from my parents, coaches, and even teachers,” she states. “My school has never had a girl wrestle, and are proud to see it. Even people I see in the hallway, I’ve never met before, are supporting and cheering me on. It’s a great feeling.”
Nebraska votes today, Thursday May 21st, a day Halle’s been looking forward to for quite some time. “This will provide girls a lot more opportunities through athletics,” Opat states. “This will allow for more opportunities for girls to compete. There may be some girls who play other sports, but have yet to find their passion for it. It might be wrestling they’re looking for, but are unaware girls even have the opportunity wrestle. Competing against my own gender, I feel I can be truly successful through the sport. Have more of an equal, competition. Girls will have the opportunity to create closer friendships with teammates. Being on a girl's team makes you feel more a part of the team. You have a better connection with them. And having a girl's team proves to other states that it is possible, and you don’t have to worry about numbers. When wrestling is sanctioned, the girls will come.”
Although an incoming High School Freshman, Opat’s plans to wrestle in college are already on the radar. With continued growing opportunities through Junior Colleges, NAIA and NCAA institutions, she’s more excited than ever to be a wrestler. When asked about collegiate opportunity, she stated, “It provides so many opportunities. You hear people such as football players who know, college may not seem like a reality in the financial sense. However, they choose to stick to football, work at it and raise chances of them gaining a college scholarship. This could mean that same opportunity for female wrestlers. [With this,] girls can continue with great things from such an opportunity; the Olympics, a World Championship, life-long friendships, successful careers, anything! It’s a great way to hep further your education while still being involved in athletics. At that level, I can only imagine, what an amazing experience that is.”
Halle's motivation is the sport itself as she states with a smile, “[Wrestling] provides opportunities for all girls, no matter what their athletic background may be. You learn so many skills from wrestling such as determination, leadership and so much more that will help you later on in life too.”
In addition to her peers and younger girls watching her, Opat believes girls need to empower others as she states, “Just making a difference. When girls see other girls wrestle, they realize it’s possible. So those girls who see me on the mat they’ll think ‘Wow. Maybe I’ll give wrestling a try too.”