The story of Pleasant Valley’s girls’ wrestling team is one of courage and determination. As the first official winter sport to begin in Iowa, the program continues to grow every year. After sending athletes to the state level in past seasons, the Spartans are ready to build on that success and prove themselves once again.
Girls’ wrestling became sanctioned in Iowa in 2023, but when the Pleasant Valley team started, they only had 11 girls sign up. There must be 14 girls to fill a varsity lineup. Before the officially sanctioned year, the girls only participated in club programs and wrestled with boys.
Senior Abby Meyrer has been on the team since the beginning of the program. With a historic run during her freshman year of high school, she won the 120-lb state title and has continued to place among the top competitors. As one of Pleasant Valley’s original female wrestlers, she has watched the program grow every year. “The feeling of being a part of the growth of our school has been amazing. To watch all the newer girls fall in love with the sport as I did many years ago is something that I’ve always wanted to watch, and getting to be a leader to them makes my heart warm and gives me the biggest smile every day,” said Meyrer.
Alongside veterans like Meyrer, new members are bringing a fresh, excited energy to the team. One newcomer, junior Olivia Haan, shared her feelings for the season, “ Some goals I have set for myself is to keep pushing no matter what or the cause. For the team I want them to keep a strong mindset and to keep going.”
The Spartans’ schedule this year is tougher than ever, with tournaments like the Battle of Waterloo and the West Liberty Invitational testing their skills against ranked opponents. Coaches stress that both mental and physical skills are equally important in wrestling. While practices force athletes to endure pain and exhaustion, matches require concentration and confidence. Meyrer shared how it affected her during sophomore year, “I ended up taking fourth and losing to the same girl twice while battling through an injury that would end up sitting me out for seven months after surgery and rehab, but I wrestled the girl better the second time I wrestled her.”
As the 2025-2026 season begins, Pleasant Valley’s girls wrestling team is focused on leaving everything on the mat and making this year unforgettable. For seniors like Abby Meyrer, it is about competing with no regrets and finishing her Spartan career with pride. With experienced leaders guiding the way, Pleasant Valley is ready to grow stronger and prove they are among Iowa’s best.
