When it comes to sports and the Kansas Krusaders, wrestling knows no gender. However, when it is time for the Bodybar Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colo., it’s all about girl power.

For the second year in a row, the Lawrence Coyotes, also known as the Kansas Krusaders, took six girls to the Bodybar Nationals. Amanda Morris, Kayla Gore, Kelli Bruner, Shelby and Jessica Bowman, and Taylor Young all competed in the tournament, which ranges from girls in the third grade all the way to ladies at the collegiate level, and is known for having the toughest competition nationwide.

“Girls wrestling is becoming the fastest growing sport in the country,” said Jeff Morris, assistant coach for the Kansas Krusaders. “The Olympics just recognized it for global competition, and our girls can’t seem to get enough of it.”

While the trip’s main goal was for the girls to compete, there were opportunities that allowed them to go beyond and learn new things as well as be a part of the tournament. The girls took a tour of the Olympic Wrestling Training Center, located in Colorado Springs, and witnessed the day-to-day training of Olympians

“Most of the time, the girls hate doing drills,” Morris said. “But when they saw Olympic class wrestlers doing the exact same drills we do back home, I think they changed their tune.”

For the most part nationwide, girls wrestling is still in the minority stage of national recognition, but more and more girls are showing up in the schools and in the leagues with the desire to be a part of the sport. Girls like Amanda Morris play for the love of the game, despite the gender of their opponent.

“There’s really no big deal between guys and girls,” Amanda Morris, 10, said. “I like wrestling no matter who I’m up against.”

When they’re not competing on the mats, the girls can spend their time making friends nationwide. Instead of the creation of rivalry, ties are created and the girls find friends to keep in contact with when they travel back home. There is even a blog system for the girls to keep in contact and share their success with the friends they meet in the tournaments.

Most of the girls at the Kansas Krusaders are young; some of the oldest will be starting junior high next fall. These girls who are already so involved, have to better themselves as well as take their skills to higher levels. Amanda plans to compete in the boys and girls Greco-Roman championships in June.

“I’m excited,” Amanda said. “My goal this year is just to do better than I did last time.”