SD’s first girls wrestling showcase opens college doors - Trio of Lady Lynx seniors show collegiate coaches their worth on the mat

Just a few years ago, the idea of college wrestling coaches gathering in South Dakota specifically to recruit girls would have sounded far-fetched.

Last Thursday at Canton High School, it became reality.

The state’s first Big Sioux Area Recruiting Showcase brought approximately 15 college coaches together under one roof to watch many of South Dakota’s top female senior wrestlers train, compete and, most importantly, make personal connections that could shape their futures.

For Brandon Valley, three incoming seniors – Kendall Clayton, Rinoah Gabriel and Shaylee Arredondo – seized the opportunity.

Brandon Valley head coach Derek Outland called the event a milestone for the rapidly growing sport.

“A lot of credit to the Canton coaches and administration for putting this all together and for making it happen, getting all these college coaches in here and girls from the area,” Outland said.

The morning session of the one-day event wasn’t designed to teach brand-new wrestling techniques. Instead, athletes participated in workouts, drills, and in the afternoon, live matches took place with college coaches evaluating not only the girls’ wrestling abilities but also how they responded to coaching.

“There was a little bit of technique demonstration because one of the things that they’re trying to show for the coaches is, ‘Are you coachable?’” Outland said. “If somebody is demonstrating something and they want you to do something a certain way, how well are you picking up on that?”

The timing couldn’t be better for the Lady Lynx trio. As women’s wrestling continues to explode nationwide and was recognized by the NCAA for its first championship this past year, colleges throughout the Midwest are launching new programs and creating opportunities that barely existed just a few years ago.

“You see the number of programs keep on growing and more and more opportunities for these girls going into college,” Outland said. “It’s great to see them have that chance to show what they can do, and for the college coaches, it’s a great chance for them to recruit.”

Many of the colleges represented last week are just beginning or are in their second season of women’s wrestling.

“There’s a bunch of women’s programs that are popping up in colleges in the Midwest,” Outland said.

For Clayton, who was voted a team captain for BV’s 2026-27 season, said the showcase was more than just another wrestling event. It was a chance to explore colleges while sharing how she feels the sport has changed.

“I wanted to be part of this because I wanted to get to know more colleges than I already know,” Clayton said. “I know a few, but I just want to explore all my options.”

She hopes to remain relatively close to home if she wrestles in college.

“If I can go to a college and I can wrestle for a college that’s close, I would absolutely love that,” she said. “It’s just helpful to explore all options. There’s D-II, D-III, NAIA here today, so explore all options. Talk with the coaches and see who fits me the best.”

Clayton began wrestling at BV as a seventh-grader, and well-remembers when girls wrestling was still in its infancy.

“When I first started, there was like four girls on the team. We still had to wrestle with the boys,” she said. “Now just seeing that there’s a huge, wide fan base for women’s wrestling, it’s so empowering for all the younger girls, and I think the older girls, too.”

Clayton acknowledges how she’s grown physically and mentally in the sport. 

“When I first started, I wasn’t great and I wasn’t a star. I wasn’t a stud, and now I’m working to be better and I’m working to be stronger, and I can get there,” she confidently says. “I just don’t think I ever thought I would have the opportunity to wrestle in college until maybe last year.”

Clayton hopes to win an individual state championship this season while serving as a leader for BV’s younger wrestlers.

“My goal is to win state, to be the best team captain I can, to lead my girls, to help all the new girls, and to find a good college to wrestle at,” she said.

Clayton hasn’t quite narrowed down her field of study, but has an interest in environmental science, biochemistry for a career in the medical field.

But on Thursday, she only had wrestling on her mind.

“I just love how if you have the right mindset, you can get better. If you have the grit, the hard work, the determination, you can get