Newtown’s Lone Female Wrestler Earns First Varsity Win

By Andy Hutchison

Leigh Gerety, the only girl on Newtown High School’s wrestling team, earned her first varsity win on January 24, pinning Wilton High opponent Mark Malburg in 1:10. “I was shocked,” the regular in the team’s 112-pound weight division said.

The Newtown sophomore and first-year grappler decided to get involved in wrestling, attended a couple of camps and continues to learn the ins and outs of a predominately male activity. She is enjoying competing in her new — albeit bruising at times — sport.

Gerety’s legs are evidence that she’s working hard and absorbing some punishment along the way. She points out that they are bruised in several spots and recognizes that life on the mats for girl is not so easy.

“I don’t have as much muscle as everybody else,” Gerety said of her male teammates and counterparts who, by nature, are stronger.

But in wrestling, where the playing surface is leveled somewhat by designated weight classes, tactics can overcome strength in many instances.

“Once you learn a lot more you can outsmart them,” Gerety said.

That is what NHS Coach Alan Potter believes happened in Gerety’s win. Her opponent made a mistake and she capitalized on it, he said. “She put the young man on his back and put him there with excellent technique.”

Gerety is one of several girls Potter has had in his 11 years with the team (he has had a female participant in eight of those seasons in fact) and the coach finds that they always work hard to compete with the boys.

“Because of the challenge of wrestling boys, I have found that the girls that have been on my team have seemed to be more focused and disciplined because of the challenge,” Potter said.

Gerety likes the challenging aspect of wrestling and competing in general. She also runs.

“They’re both really mental,” she said of wrestling and running. “I think it’s a challenge — that’s why I like to do it.”