Twin sisters Daisy and Lizzie Padilla will compete on the first women's wrestling team at Western State College.

Their transition to collegiate athletics marks a milestone for women's sports in the region. As some of the leading athletes in the state's emerging wrestling scene, the twins represent a new generation of competitors benefiting from expanded institutional support.

The sisters began their wrestling careers in sixth grade. Their path to the collegiate level was paved by a shift in state athletic regulations, as girls wrestling became a sanctioned sport in Colorado in 2020 [1]. This official recognition allowed female athletes to compete in regulated environments and earn the credentials necessary for college recruitment.

Western State College is launching its inaugural women's wrestling program to accommodate this growing interest. The Padilla twins are joining the team for the current season, bringing years of experience from the high school level to the university's first squad.

The growth of the sport in Colorado reflects a broader trend of increasing participation and sanctioning of women's combat sports across the U.S. By establishing formal teams, institutions like Western State College provide a structured pathway for athletes who previously had limited options for competitive advancement.

“The twins are joining the team for the current season.”

The establishment of the first women's wrestling team at Western State College, paired with the recruitment of high-profile local athletes like the Padilla twins, signals the maturation of the sport in Colorado. Because the sport was only sanctioned in 2020, the current collegiate pipeline is just beginning to form, suggesting that women's wrestling will likely see a surge in enrollment and competitive quality as more athletes from the first sanctioned cohorts reach college age.