Verona Girl Takes Battle To Wrestle At Camp To The Mat
UW Bars Girls From Summer Camp
Updated: 3:03 pm CDT April 18, 2008
VERONA, Wis. -- An 8-year-old Verona girl wants to wrestle at a University of Wisconsin camp, but officials said that girls aren't allowed.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportKylie Jones has been wrestling since she was 6 years old and she can rattle off a list of holds, lock and clinches like she was an Olympic medalist, WISC-TV reported.Now, Jones is grappling in one aspect of the sport that she's having a hard time handling. She wants to go to a UW summer wrestling camp, but the program is only for boys.Jones' fascination with wrestling started out as a little horseplay, according to her mother."She finally decided one day, 'I'm going to get into wrestling," said Christena Jones.Kylie Jones now boasts a collection of medals. She even competed in the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation's state tournament, WISC-TV reported."(It) makes me feel happy but I don't brag about it," Kylie Jones said.She said she has edged out boys who might have underestimated her skills. She pointed out a photo of a boy that she bested."Yes, because he got beaten by a girl," she said.However, Kylie soon found out that being the lone girl can be tough, like when she was trying to sign up for the camp.Christena Jones said that she was upset that her daughter couldn't attend the camp."So when I called them up, I was talking to the receptionist, and I had mentioned 'she' a few times. And she's like, 'Is your wrestler a girl?' And I said, 'Yes.' And she said, 'I'm sorry, ma'am, we don't accept females.'""I was a little upset because girls can be just as strong as boys, and maybe tougher," Kylie Jones said.Kylie Jones said that she plans to practice at home. Her mother said that she hopes her child learns a valuable lesson from the experience."I hope she takes away from this to never back down. No matter what anybody says. To fight for what you believe in, and to fight for what you want, no matter what the consequences," she said.Kylie Jones said that she's hasn't been dissuaded."I'm going to wrestle as long as I want," Kylie Jones said.After contacting school officials about Kylie's story, Vince Sweeney, the UW's senior associate athletic director, issued a statement that they are considering a response to Jones' request."We have talked with the parent who contacted WISC-TV and have assured her that we will follow up promptly on the information she provided to us and to the station," he said.As for the girl's training, her mother has purchased a wrestling drill book for her, but is still looking for a co-ed camp for the summer, WISC-TV reported.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportKylie Jones has been wrestling since she was 6 years old and she can rattle off a list of holds, lock and clinches like she was an Olympic medalist, WISC-TV reported.Now, Jones is grappling in one aspect of the sport that she's having a hard time handling. She wants to go to a UW summer wrestling camp, but the program is only for boys.Jones' fascination with wrestling started out as a little horseplay, according to her mother."She finally decided one day, 'I'm going to get into wrestling," said Christena Jones.Kylie Jones now boasts a collection of medals. She even competed in the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation's state tournament, WISC-TV reported."(It) makes me feel happy but I don't brag about it," Kylie Jones said.She said she has edged out boys who might have underestimated her skills. She pointed out a photo of a boy that she bested."Yes, because he got beaten by a girl," she said.However, Kylie soon found out that being the lone girl can be tough, like when she was trying to sign up for the camp.Christena Jones said that she was upset that her daughter couldn't attend the camp."So when I called them up, I was talking to the receptionist, and I had mentioned 'she' a few times. And she's like, 'Is your wrestler a girl?' And I said, 'Yes.' And she said, 'I'm sorry, ma'am, we don't accept females.'""I was a little upset because girls can be just as strong as boys, and maybe tougher," Kylie Jones said.Kylie Jones said that she plans to practice at home. Her mother said that she hopes her child learns a valuable lesson from the experience."I hope she takes away from this to never back down. No matter what anybody says. To fight for what you believe in, and to fight for what you want, no matter what the consequences," she said.Kylie Jones said that she's hasn't been dissuaded."I'm going to wrestle as long as I want," Kylie Jones said.After contacting school officials about Kylie's story, Vince Sweeney, the UW's senior associate athletic director, issued a statement that they are considering a response to Jones' request."We have talked with the parent who contacted WISC-TV and have assured her that we will follow up promptly on the information she provided to us and to the station," he said.As for the girl's training, her mother has purchased a wrestling drill book for her, but is still looking for a co-ed camp for the summer, WISC-TV reported.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
