Girls wrestling is the fastest-growing sport in America. With 40 states now hosting championships and more than 75,000 participants nationwide, its rise has been nothing short of remarkable.
Among those leading the way are standout athletes from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
McLoud, Oklahoma, sophomore Carli Sisco recently captured her second consecutive Oklahoma State Championship. Meanwhile, Vivian Hayes, who won a state title for Tecumseh, Oklahoma, last year, has already made waves at the collegiate level, finishing as a National Junior College runner-up in her freshman season for Murray State.
Hayes, a member of the Bourassa family, originally stepped onto the mat simply to help a friend. Her high school needed more girls to form a team, and she volunteered. What began as a favor quickly turned into a passion and an opportunity to excel.
“I just kind of tried it for her, but after that, I really started to love it and do it a lot,” Hayes said. “I love the one-on-one competition. In wrestling, all the work that I put in, I get to see my results. My success comes directly from that work.”
Sisco’s path to wrestling began in junior high when she was focused on cross country. A conversation with her coach changed that.
“He asked if I played a winter sport. I said I didn’t, and he told me I should try wrestling,” said Sisco, a member of the Bourbonnais family. “I tried it and ended up loving it. What I love most is the family I’ve gained and the sense of community.”
Beyond their achievements on the mat, both athletes take great pride in their heritage and what it means to be Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal members.
“It’s really important to my family,” Sisco said. “We strongly identify as CPN, and it means a lot to us.”
Hayes echoed that sentiment.
“I love telling people about my heritage and expressing it,” she said. “It’s very important to me.”
On her way to the national finals and earning Junior College All-American honors, Hayes faced one of her toughest challenges, facing the No. 1 seed in her weight class.
“I wasn’t seeded, so I knew I’d face her sooner or later,” Hayes said. “I could tell she was reacting to what I was doing, so I kept pushing the pace. She started to panic a little. When she pushed on me, I used that pressure to throw her and get the fall.”
For Sisco, a defining moment came during her freshman year when she defeated a returning state champion in a tournament. That victory sparked a new level of confidence.
Both young women are determined to continue representing their schools and their Tribe at the highest level. Hayes is focused on building on her runner-up finish and pursuing a national championship next season. Sisco, along with her teammates, has already helped secure back-to-back state titles and now has the opportunity to make Oklahoma high school wrestling history with continued success.