Wrestle Like a Girl Co-Founders
Running Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim
In support of the She Can Wrestle campaign, Wrestle Like a Girl co-founders Sally Roberts and Amy Zirneklis are preparing to take on one of ultrarunning’s greatest challenges: running the Grand Canyon from Rim to Rim in one day. On October 2, 2021, the intrepid pair plan on departing from the North Rim to descend the North Kaibab Trail to the Colorado River, before ascending to the North Rim via
Bright Angel Trail.
The 25.5-mile journey features 10,500 feet of total elevation change, and according to the Rim to Rim Club, fewer than 1% of visitors to the Grand Canyon attempt the Rim to Rim crossing. Far fewer attempt the crossing in one day, and for those who do, a 2018 study found the median time taken to cross the canyon was 11.9 hours. The steep terrain, lack of available water, temperatures that can exceed 100 degrees, and the remoteness of the trail all contribute to the challenge.
The She Can Wrestle campaign is a 2-month fundraising campaign with the goal to raise $300,000 to advance WLAG’s mission to empower girls and women using the sport of wrestling to become leaders in life. Though Sally and Amy both have extensive backgrounds as athletes, the Rim to Rim run is unlike any endurance event either has attempted. Please support their effort by donating to the She Can Wrestle campaign.
Sally Roberts is no stranger to challenge. The U.S. Army combat veteran, 3x National Champion, World Cup Champion, and 2x World Bronze Medalist in women’s wrestling launched the Wrestle Like a Girl organization in 2016 to empower girls and women using the sport of wrestling to become leaders in life. In recognition of the organization’s impact on the sport, Sally received the 2016 Women in Sport Award on behalf of United World Wrestling and the International Olympic Committee and was named USA Wrestling ‘Woman of the Year’ for 2018. She earned a masters degree in Sport and Performance Psychology from University of the Rockies and a certification in nutrition from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
Amy Zirneklis brings her championship mindset and two decades of endurance sport experience to the Rim to Rim challenge. Before co-founding Wrestle Like a Girl, she developed her own passion for cycling while assisting in managing the Olympic medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Road Cycling Team. Currently a Manager of Athlete Relations at USANA Health Sciences, Amy earned her MBA in Finance and International Business from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Certificates of International Affairs from New York University and The Law of the Sea from Rhodes Academy of Oceans and Law Policy.
About Wrestle Like A Girl
Wrestle Like A Girl, Inc. is a 501(c)3 whose mission is to empower girls and women using the sport of wrestling to become leaders in life. More information is available at: WrestleLikeAGirl.Org.