Lexi Willcher circled the Skyline mat room. She slid in a sideways motion, weaving between teammates with speed and precision.

Nothing appeared out of the ordinary during Monday’s practice drill, except one obvious difference — the large, fluffy pony tail that bounced behind her.

Willcher is the only female wrestler on this year’s team, and only the second in Skyline history.

“It’s just fun,” she said. “There’s lots of laughing, but still it’s pretty hard work, and still a challenge.”

Willcher, a junior, started wrestling when she was a seventh grader in Colorado. She transferred to Skyline in the middle of her sophomore year and made noise during Washington’s first ever girl’s state wrestling championship by taking second in the 145-pound division.

“That was pretty cool, I’ve had never really gotten that far,” said Willcher, noting there were only three girls in her weight class in the entire state of Colorado.

Willcher is part of a growing trend in Washington. Last year, state high schools had 485 female wrestlers. The number jumped to 620 in 2009 — a near 25 percent increase.

“It’s been growing steady for the last two years,” said Jim Meyerhoff, assistant executive director for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

One of those who hopped on board was Issaquah High senior Kristen Meacham. A former competitive trampoline and tumbling gymnast, Meacham became frustrated with her club team and searched for an alternative sport. After speaking with friends on the wrestling team, her interest grew. And when she heard there were doubters, including her dad and gymnastics coach, she set out on a mission.

“It was kind of to prove everyone wrong, that I can do whatever I want to do, and you can’t stop me,” Meacham said.

While she started out to prove a point, her mindset changed weeks into the season. The sport grew on her, but something else happened.

“I’d like to say I fell in love with wrestling, but I guess I just really fell in love with the team,” she said.

The feeling is mutual.

“It’s just like she’s one of the guys,” said senior Dalton Baunsgard, who helped convince Meacham to try out.

Head coach Kirk Hyatt has experience coaching female wrestlers, including Issaquah’s only other female, Monique Ducey, who graduated in 2000. She wrestled only boys, and was an injury shy of making regionals at 103 pounds. Hyatt said he’s happy to have another girl on the mat.

“I’m used to it,” he said. “I think some coaches fear it and I don’t have a problem with it. As long as they are there for the right reason …”

Meacham said she suffered quite a few bumps and bruises along the way, and her team occasionally forgot her in the girls locker room, but the overall experience is great.

“Maybe it’s because I’m the only girl in eight years or something,” she said. “I get a lot of respect I think, which is amazing because it’s hard.”

Meacham is 2-2 this season, with all her matches coming against other girls. She recently dropped from 125 pounds to 119, where she has set lofty goals in her first year.

“I want to make to state, and I want to place,” she said.

For Willcher, the goals are even higher. She is the No. 1 ranked female wrestler in the state at 140 pounds. She currently has a 14-3 overall record (11-3 against boys and 3-0 against girls).

“I’d put my money on her against any other girl in the state,” said Skyline assistant coach Sean Keveren.

Fellow Spartan assistant Sean Gulikson concurred.

“She’s very down to business, this is what she does, when it’s time to do it, there’s nothing really else going through her head,” he said.

While work ethic is something she prides herself on, toughness tops the list as well. One eighth-grade club match still stands out to Willcher.

“I beat this guy and I pinned him in about 20 seconds or so … and he started crying, he threw his head gear and he ran to his mom off the mat,” she said. “That kind of made my day.”

Willcher said she loves wrestling, but isn’t sure she will pursue it at the collegiate level. Right now her eyes are primarily on a civil engineering degree. She does, however, encourage other females who might be interested in wrestling to give it a shot. She initially tried it on a dare, and said it has taught her more life lessons than she could have imagined.

“They’ve got nothing to lose,” Willcher said. “As far as the awkwardness goes, it’s just spandex, that’s all it is. They shouldn’t be ashamed for it because they’re wearing their school colors, and they’re doing something that other girls wouldn’t do.”