Zach Pinter
My Stories
Audrey Hull’s winning vision: Putting the Lady Wasps back on top
Mat revolution: How Utah girls are transforming high school wrestling
Listen to my KRCL Feature:
Biography
Zack Pinter is a communications major at the University of Utah, specializing in journalism. With a passion for music and storytelling, he is dedicated to exploring the diverse worlds of artists, albums and the industry at large. His work aims to spotlight compelling narratives and create connections between music and its listeners. When he's not writing, Pinter can be found curating playlists, attending live shows or discovering hidden gems in the music scene.
Reporter's Notebook
While searching for a story, I found myself thinking of "typical" women's sports: basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer. Why is it that when we think of women in sports, our minds automatically shift to these? Why don't we look at women and see something more physical?
As I was asking myself this question, it occurred to me that here in Utah, girl's wrestling was previously sanctioned and beginning to blossom. A new wave was happening that was challenging the stereotypes of appropriate/traditional "femininity."
I realized I wasn't just looking for a story — I had stumbled into a movement redefining what it means to be a female athlete in Utah.
Following athletes like Hillcrest's Eva Zimmerman and Wasatch's Laynee Bonner, it was clear that the goal isn't just wins and pins—it's about rewriting tradition.
The evolution of girls' wrestling in Utah has been one of the most inspiring stories I've followed. Since sanctioning in 2020, there's been a 700% increase in the number of wrestlers, beginning with 200 and now 1,600.
Still, statistics alone can't capture the emotions you feel seeing Zimmerman make a match-winning move while her teammates erupt on the sidelines. Or to hear Bonner go from a questionable participant to a fierce competitor despite skepticism from friends.
After hearing from the athletes, I needed to see who was behind the sanctioning and making this all possible. This being the Utah High School Activities Association. Assistant directors of the association, Brenan Jackson and Chris Shipman, were gracious enough to sit down with me and discuss the history and future of Utah girls' wrestling.
"We didn't view girls wrestling as a new sport—we saw it as an expansion of something already happening. Once the numbers started rising, it became clear – this deserved its own space," said Jackson.
The reporting process wasn't easy, and I had a lot of setbacks. Reaching sources was difficult and, at times, discouraging. Connecting with the association took some time as a national organization. Although, through several emails and messages, I finally got a meeting set up. This is how most of my reporting went.
One of the best things I learned from my reporting was how personal this sport is for the athletes. Zimmerman told me that being underestimated as a "girl wrestler" only fuels her fire. Bonner talked about overcoming initial embarrassment about uniforms and perceptions. These events led to an increase in confidence, discipline and resilience.
And that's the heart of the story—wrestling isn't just about competition; it's the experience that comes from it and what it's done and is doing for these girls. As a reporter, I walked away feeling that I didn't just witness a sports story — I saw a cultural shift. And judging by the grit I've seen on the mat, this is only the beginning.