UPDATE: PHASE 2 – Utah Wrestling Supporters

Thank you to everyone who has shared your stories and helped amplify the powerful impact wrestling has had on your lives, your athletes, and your families. Because of your voices, conversations and meetings have been sparked across the state—and change is beginning.

As we look ahead, I've asked myself where I can best serve as an advocate for women’s sports. The answer is clear: with our girls. Our mission is to build bridges and open doors to ensure they have the support, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed—both on and off the mat.

I'm proud to announce that Utah Educational Athletics, the nonprofit I founded, is officially launching its signature programs in PHASE 2 of our campaign. We are calling on YOU—our supporters, community members, and advocates—to help us grow these programs by contributing and sharing our mission.

Our Signature Programs Include:
🔹 High School Girls Wrestling Tournament — Led by Women, for Women
A premier event celebrating female wrestlers in Utah. This tournament is led by women and built to empower young female athletes in a supportive, competitive environment.

🔹 Empower HER Legacy — Utah D1 Collegiate Campaign & Leadership Training
Partnering with Utah Division 1 female athletes, this program offers mentorship, advanced training, leadership development, and advocacy opportunities for young women across the state.

🔹 Miss Utah Athletics Scholarship Pageant
A dynamic platform where student-athletes showcase leadership, service, and academic excellence—opening doors to scholarships and educational opportunities beyond high school.

🔹 All Girls Club – Northern Utah Girls Wrestling
A year-round program fostering a strong, inclusive female wrestling community through training, mentorship, and competitive opportunities.

🔹 At-Risk Prevention Program – Beat the Streets SLC
In partnership with the nationally recognized Beat the Streets initiative, we offer free wrestling programs to underserved youth in Utah. Our holistic approach includes athletic training, drug prevention, healthy relationships, and life-skills development—empowering students to thrive both on and off the mat.

We are building a movement, but we cannot do it alone. In this next phase, we need your help.
Please consider donating to support these life-changing programs. Your contribution directly fuels opportunity, equity, and empowerment for Utah's next generation of female athletes.

Let’s build this legacy together.

— Maria Speredon
Founder, Utah Educational Athletics
Advocating for girls. Investing in futures.

My name is a testament to the empowerment that wrestling brings. I am a wife, a mother, a teacher, and a women’s high school wrestling coach. Through my journey, I have witnessed how this incredible sport transforms young women by building strength, resilience, and confidence—qualities essential for shaping tomorrow’s leaders.

·        I was grateful to play a role in the campaign to sanction girls’ high school wrestling in Utah, a milestone that has already opened doors for countless young athletes in our state. Now, as a passionate advocate and seeker of new opportunities for Utah’s athletes, I believe it’s time to take the next step: providing collegiate opportunities that will allow these young women to continue their growth, education, and leadership development.

·        Wrestling is more than a sport—it’s a foundation for building legacies, and Utah can lead the way in ensuring our female athletes thrive both on and off the mat. Now, it’s time to build on that momentum and take the next step: creating opportunities for these athletes to continue their journey at the D1 collegiate level.

·        Over the past decade, the number of female high school wrestlers in the United States has grown fivefold. Despite this incredible growth, Utah offers no D1 collegiate programs for these talented young women to continue competing. While over 110 colleges nationwide now offer women’s wrestling (source: National Wrestling Coaches Association), Utah remains notably absent from this list. This lack of opportunity forces our athletes to leave the state to pursue athletic scholarships, continue their competitive careers, and benefit from the personal growth and life skills that wrestling provides.

·        Women’s Wrestling is the fastest-growing sport in the nation, and Utah has the chance to be part of this movement. Establishing a Division I Women’s Wrestling program at one of our esteemed universities—such as Utah Valley University (UVU) or Brigham Young University (BYU)—would not only empower female wrestlers but also strengthen our state’s reputation as a hub for wrestling excellence. By keeping our college athletes in Utah, we protect and guide their growth while ensuring they have the opportunity to give back to their communities and build lasting legacies.

·        This is more than just a sport. It’s a pathway to leadership, education, and community development. Let’s invest in Utah’s future by creating opportunities for our female athletes and showing the nation, that Utah is ready to lead in Women’s Wrestling.

·        This petition reflects the collective voices of Utahns who believe that when we Empower HER Legacy, we Empower our Futures. 

·        By signing this petition, you are advocating for the advancement of Women’s Wrestling in Utah and helping to shape a brighter future for our athletes, universities, and communities. Together, we can inspire a new generation of leaders through sport and education with the resources they deserve to compete at the highest level. 

·        Let’s make Women’s Wrestling a celebrated part of Utah’s collegiate athletic legacy!

We kindly ask you to copy the link, share it on your social media, and send it to your family and friends—every signature brings us one step closer to making a lasting impact for female athletes!

Please note: The platform may prompt you to donate to Change.org, but these funds do not go to our EmpowerHerLegacy campaign. At this stage, we are solely focused on collecting signatures, and we are not yet in the fundraising phase.

·        #empowerHERlegacy #NUGW #UTGirlsWrestle Please Follow @NorthernUtahGirlsWrestling and visit www.utaheducationalathletics.org