Greensboro College is hosting the Ukraine Women’s National Wrestling Team this week. It’s an opportunity to promote both the sport and a cultural exchange of ideas.
This isn’t just any visiting wrestling team. These are the winners of the 2022 United World Women’s Freestyle Wrestling World Cup. Greensboro College head wrestling coach Justin Harty calls the women from Ukraine “the best of the best,” and says the entire community will benefit from their brief tenure in the Gate City.
Following the team’s arrival on Thursday, a whirlwind schedule will include training with the Greensboro College women’s and men’s teams, along with a free clinic and exhibition on Saturday.
Coach Harty says this is a unique opportunity for his players, and anyone interested in the sport.
"We obviously can learn lots from their style of wrestling," says Harty. "Not about just wrestling and technique, but what are their training regimens? What's their diet? We're going to be able to have a better understanding and a sharing of that."
Harty says the five-day schedule will also allow the team to visit local cultural institutions, and to share stories about the struggles their country is facing.
"The sport is allowing us to have a common ground to get together even though we come from vastly different worlds, experiencing vastly different things right now," says Harty.
The Ukraine Women’s National Wrestling Team is spending two months touring the United States.