DES MOINES, Iowa —

Tuesday night at Hoover High School, Des Moines Public Schools hosted its first home dual meet for the girls wrestling team—a milestone in one of the state’s fastest-growing sports that head coach Kendric Birden says is opening doors for athletes.

"This program is based on opportunities, and last year we sent four girls off to college with full wrestling scholarships," Birden said.

The scope of those wrestling scholarships has been widened by the NCAA, elevating women's wrestling from an emerging sport to a full national championship this last January.

"I want to continue sending girls off to college," Birden said. "Our main goal is to get these girls to school, and I feel like wrestling is the way to get there."

Along with the opportunities girls' wrestling can bri

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