Newport wrestling coach Mike Capozzoli speaks often about the strength of his small community and the support that gets thrown behind his program. That level of support, Capozzoli says, is in the name of upholding a rich wrestling tradition and, at least this week, starting a brand new one.
Newport became Pennsylvania’s 16th program to announce the approval of a girls wrestling program, adding another key piece to a growing push for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to recognize girls wrestling as a sport. The target number of schools for the PIAA to sanction the sport is 100, but the goalposts could be moving as the PIAA explores emerging sport status.
That movement is one school closer following a pitch from Capozzoli to Newport athletic director Shawn Lesh and superintendent Ryan Neuhard. Capozzoli said he pulled directly from the playbook assembled by the Sanction PA movement in his presentation to help alleviate typical concerns about costs, budgets, transportation and logistics.
“We’re very fortunate because our wrestling community is really, really supportive of the sport,” Capozzoli said. “There’s been a nice tradition here, so we actually wanted to jump in and be in the top 10, and it just didn’t happen probably because the same pushback most schools are getting.”
That pushback includes the prospect of adding costs in a time of rampant uncertainty for school districts, but Capozzoli said the Newport effort was aided by the fact that many of those costs won’t be incurred for months or years down the road. The Buffaloes simply signed a letter of commitment to build toward a fully operational program.
Newport has quietly been one of the most supportive districts in Pennsylvania in the push to grow girls wrestling. The school has built a vibrant girls youth program that has been growing for the better part of five years; building toward a girls varsity program is a logical next step.
“We’re definitely excited for the opportunity,” Capozzoli said. “I think it’s exciting for the girls and for the sport of wrestling.”
Capozzoli sits on the executive board for the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association and says he has benefited from the time that group has allotted to girls wrestling issues. Sanction PA has developed a playbook for coaches and administrators for their communication with their respective school boards and community with many of the answers they’re looking for.
Capozzoli said he presented all of those materials to Lesh and Neuhard and got the green light to start building a girls program with the help of former Newport state champ Adam Smith. With Smith’s energy for girls wrestling at the youth level and a community that takes immense pride in its wrestling, the Buffaloes are officially on board and part of a historic push to grow girls wrestling.
“Our wrestling community is really, really special,” Capozzoli said. “There’s a definite interest in wanting to keep the tradition alive. Not only is this good for me, it’s good for the community and good for the sport of wrestling.”