A delegation from Lakeland University was part of a pair of events in Washington D.C. on Oct. 30 to support Wrestle Like A Girl, a national non-profit organization working to empower girls and women through the sport of wrestling to become leaders in life.
 
Lakeland President David Black attended a morning breakfast at the U.S. Capitol, then he led a group that attended an evening gala for Wrestle Like A Girl at the National Museum for Women in the Arts. He was joined by Lakeland Director of Athletics April Arvan, Senior Director of Advancement Julie Steinert, Lakeland Trustee Kathie Powers and Wisconsin Women's Wrestling Federation Director Laura Bartoszek.
 
The breakfast included a number of members of Congress, and was an opportunity to celebrate some champions of wrestling and urge for legislative support of wrestling. Wrestle Like A Girl is seeking help with state sanctioning, NCAA Emerging Sport Status and opening more wrestling doors for equal access, equal opportunity and equal fun.
 
Lakeland's involvement at these events is the beginning of a partnership between Lakeland and Wrestle Like A Girl. LU was the only higher education institution that attended these events. Lakeland is in the midst of developing curriculum that will create programming to teach women to coach other women.
 
Wrestle Like A Girl's vision is to increase the opportunities for girls and women, who either wrestle, want to wrestle or simply want to participate in a movement to own their personal space, own their voice and own their sense of self.