ABOUT PERRY GIRLS WRESTLING
Wrestling Empowers Girls to Become Leaders in Life
Perry Girls Wrestling and the Perry Schools Athletic Department are excited to provide wrestling opportunities for all girls in Grades K - 12. In collaboration with Wrestle Like a Girl and SanctionOH, we are proud to support the growth of girls wrestling and we believe that She Can Wrestle!
For the past five years, girls wrestling has been the fastest growing sport in the country. In a historic move in 2022, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to add girls wrestling as an emerging sport beginning with the 2022-23 school year. This sanctioning of girls wrestling in Ohio will help expand opportunities for girls to practice and compete in the sport with other girls and ultimately grow the sport as a whole.​ Learn more about this recognition at OHSAA.
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Over 100 colleges and universities have added women’s wrestling as an NCAA sport, creating opportunities for student-athletes to continue their education. Wrestling is a sport for everyone, including all girls. Wrestling empowers girls with confidence, resilience, self-esteem, mental toughness, self-defense, physical fitness.
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Due to the emerging nature of this sport, the Perry Girls Wrestling program welcomes girls from any community in Ohio or Pennsylvania to provide a girls-only environment for events, practices, and competition opportunities.
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​Perry Girls Wrestling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sports organization associated with the Perry Local Schools (Lake County, Ohio) wrestling program. All members of our staff volunteer their time in the best interests of the girls.
STAFF
Assistant Coach, Grades K-12
KATHLEEN
CIOLLI
Coach Ciolli has been involved with the Perry Wrestling program since 2012 when her son began wrestling. Her knowledge of the sport has grown over the years. She served as team mom, parent volunteer at many events and in 2022 joined the girls wrestling coaching staff. Kathleen earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and master's degree in educational technology. Coach Ciolli taught in PreK to 8th classrooms for over a decade, including as a math intervention specialist in Perry. She also has experience coaching travel softball, cheerleading, and speech and debate.
​Assistant Coach, Grades K-12
MELISSA
MANN
Coach Mann is a parent volunteer coach with six kids of her own. She was introduced to the sport of wrestling by her husband and is gaining knowledge and experience.
​Assistant Coach, Grades K-12
MARIA
RUSNAK
Coach Rusnak is a 2006 Perry High School graduate. She has supported the Perry boys wrestling program for 7 years as a parent, tournament volunteer and, at times, coach for her son.
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USA Wrestling Club Director & Youth Grades K-6 Coach
CHRIS
CIOLLI
Coach Ciolli has 17 years of coaching experience from the youth to high school level in wrestling and softball. Coach Ciolli has also served as a tournament director and fundraiser coordinator for the Perry boys wrestling program. He is a member of the Austintown Fitch High School Athletics Hall of Fame with the 1992 football team and also competed in track & field at the college level.