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Heather Morley downplays her role in state history.

By DAN McCOOL
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
March 5, 2005

Heather Morley of Urbandale bristled when asked about her place in Iowa high school wrestling history.

She may not be one of the guys, but the freshman 103-pounder with an 18-19 record is adamant about being a teammate. Nothing more, nothing less.

"I'm just another J-Hawk wrestler," Morley said. "(History) doesn't really matter."

Morley will be in the lineup when the J-Hawks face Council Bluffs Lewis Central in the state Class 3-A dual-meet tournament today at U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. She is believed to be the first girl to compete in a state wrestling tournament in Iowa.

She said there was very little taunting or teasing about her wanting to wrestle against boys.

"Everyone just considered me one of the same," she said.

Zach Morley, a junior who is Heather's brother, wrestles at 119 and says he's proud of his sister.

"There are some girls that are just trying to prove a point," Zach said. "She enjoys it. That's why she's been a tomboy all of her life. I didn't think she'd make varsity, but I think it's neat to have a girl on varsity. Especially since she can beat a lot of the boys out there."

Heather said she began wrestling when she was 4. She also participates in volleyball, track and soccer.

"I just loved watching my brother wrestle," Morley said of her start in the sport. "Wrestling's the one I spend the most time on, so I guess you could say I love it the most."

Heather, who has grown up in Urbandale's youth wrestling program, said she didn't want a special dressing area for herself this season.

"You don't look at her as a male or female," Urbandale coach Wes Boehm said. "She's a J-Hawk wrestler. She gets treated like one, she gets yelled at like one, she gets swatted on the (tail) like one.

"She's been around me yelling, hollering, screaming at her all that time. She knew what to expect when she came up here. She knows the way I coach and everybody knows I'm not going to change that for anybody. I said if any girl wrestles for me, I could handle (Morley) because she truly loves the sport of wrestling."

Cindy Johnson of West Burlington Notre Dame was one district victory from qualifying for the 2004 traditional tournament. Bud Legg, information specialist for the Iowa High School Athletic Association, said there are instances where females are on boys' teams in tournament play.

"We've had females participate in the state football playoffs and they have been on rosters of teams in the playoffs," Legg said, "We're pleased (Heather) has been able to compete."

Waverly-Shell Rock, Emmetsburg/Armstrong-Ringsted and Logan-Magnolia will try to win their second state championship in one week today. They won traditional championships at Veterans Memorial Auditorium last Saturday and own a combined 69-1 record.

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