First Years Hanrahan and Stith Shine in Women's Wrestling
January 31, 2025By Fatima Magana '22
ALLIANCE- The University of Mount Union introduced its new women’s wrestling team this academic year, with 16 athletes. February 5 is National Women in Sports Day, and as the first women's wrestling team in the history of Mount Union, the University celebrates two of its members, Emma Hanrahan ’28, exercise science major, and Karlie Stith ’28, nursing major.
Hanrahan '28 (left) and Stith '28 (right)
“I have been around wrestling my entire life because my uncles and older brothers were wrestlers,” said Stith. “But I have been wrestling since the eighth grade.”
While Stith did not initially want to be a student-athlete in college, her high school coaches mentioned Mount Union’s women's wrestling team. When she visited campus, Stith was sold on joining the team. Stith’s involvement with wrestling does not stop at Mount Union; she coaches Alliance High School’s (AHS) women’s wrestling team.
“The wrestling coaches at Alliance coached me throughout high school, so when I started wrestling at Mount Union, they asked me to help their girls,” added Stith. “As a female athlete, I’ve learned that you have to be disciplined because you have to prove people who do not believe in you wrong.”
Stith added that wrestling may be a male-dominated sport, but it is not only meant for men. She advises female student-athletes to ignore people who tell them otherwise, step outside of their comfort zone, and do what they want to do.
Clay Wenger, Mount Union's head women’s wrestling coach, explained that every student-athlete on the team was recruited, all of whom have dedicated their first season to thriving on the mat. Wenger is also thankful for the opportunity he was given by the University to coach the first women’s wrestling team.
“I am excited to see them (team members) on their journey on and off the mat here at Mount,” said Wenger. “They are going to do great things, and I am thankful to be a part of it.”
Stith '28 (top) at a wrestling match
Stith '28 (right) winning a match
Stith '28 (top) during a match
Wenger, head women's wrestling coach
Hanrahan '28 (front) coaching at an AHS wrestling competition
Hanrahan '28 (left) with wrestling coach, Wenger (right)
Hanrahan '28 (top) at a wrestling match
Mount Union's Women's Wrestling team
Hanrahan has also been around wrestling ever since she can remember. Her older brother was a wrestler, and she has been wrestling at a club level since age four. She decided to wrestle in college when Wenger reached out to recruit her.
“I did not know about Mount Union before being recruited for their women’s wrestling team, but I liked it after my tour and decided to commit,” said Hanrahan. “Being a female wrestler has taught me to be confident, and to put my all into my performance.”
Hanrahan coaches AHS' women’s wrestling team along with Stith and also lends time and talents to coach a Peewee kid’s team and a Team Ohio team in the summer. Hanrahan added that as a female athlete, one must work twice as hard as a male athlete. Therefore, she advises her mentees to continue pushing themselves because the journey is not easy.
“Female wrestlers must stay dedicated to succeeding because wrestling is a male-dominated sport, and people begin taking you seriously when they see you succeeding,” said Hanrahan.
Wenger explained that both Hanrahan and Stith are leading the teams’ success with the highest rankings in the region. Though he added that every wrestler participates in dual matches and that each is making progress on the team. Whether they are on or off the wrestling mat, these women offer passionate leadership early in their college careers. Learn how you can impact your student-athletic career at Mount Union.