MT. ZION, Ill. (WAND) - Known as the fastest growing high school sport, one of the Illinois girls wrestling's best is at Mt. Zion High School.
"Growing up, I tried almost every single sport to see which one I liked, but once I tried wrestling, it was just the sport that I fell in love with," Mt. Zion Sophomore Sydney Cannon, said.
Mt. Zion wrestling coach Dave Klemm said, "She just loves it. She's a wrestling gym rat and any opportunity she can get to do it, she does. She just keeps getting better and better and better."
Cannon is the only female wrestler on the team, so she practices against the boys.
"Wrestling with them, they're obviously stronger and everything," Cannon said, "but it also helps me work on my technique, which just helps me be better against the girls."
Last week, Mt. Zion hosted the first ever IHSA girls wrestling regional tournament. Cannon won her weight class.
"Knowing that we have grown into being able to now wrestle a regional is incredible because just three or four years ago we didn't have anything in this sport." Cannon continued, saying, "We could only wrestle against the boys."
Last year, 1,300 girls participated throughout the state. This year, the number jumped by 300 to 1,600 competitors.
Sectionals in Peoria await Cannon next week.
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