Brighton Sisters Place in U.S. Girls Wrestling Association National Championships

Brent Harvey didn't really know anything about women's wrestling until his daughters became interested and started practicing the sport in 2005.

Now both Brittany, a junior, and Brook, a freshman, wrestle on the Brighton High School boys varsity wrestling team. Their competitiveness doesn't stop there -- Brent Harvey is the founder and head coach of Michigan Women's Wrestling, a nonprofit organization that teaches girls about women's freestyle wrestling and how to compete.

Wrestlers on the team travel across the country to compete in U.S. Girls Wrestling tournaments and world team trials. Recently, both Harvey sisters placed in the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association National Championships at Eastern Michigan University. Brittany placed 4th while Brook took 7th place at the championship.

"I just love it," Brittany said about wrestling. "It's part of our lives. If we didn't have it I don't know what we'd do. I feel like we'd be lost. I love practicing. Competition is really nervewracking for me, that's something I struggle with. But I love practices."

Brittany said she hopes to continue wrestling after high school and is looking at several colleges with women's wrestling programs.

Brook said she'd like to wrestle in college, too, but has not thought too much about it yet. Right now she's just enjoying competing, especially the travel involved which is more exciting than daily practice, she said.

Brook also said wrestling with Michigan Women's wrestling is different than wrestling with the Bulldogs.

"For Brighton, we're working more as a team for the good of the team," she said. "For the girls, we're a team, but we're doing it for ourselves. If you can go to a tournament, you should."

The Harveys and the rest of Michigan Women's Wrestling are currently training hard to prepare for world team tryouts next month.