Girls Set to Hit the Mat 

Munkhbaatar Baatar ’06 named Girls’ Head Wrestling Coach

Last year, 10 female athletes, including Astrid Arita-Licona ’27, advocated for a girls’ wrestling program at The Hive, a fast-growing sport among young women that was officially sanctioned by the NJSIAA in 2022. The Girls Prep Division now has a team of 12, a coach, Munkhbaatar Baatar ’06, the first student from Mongolia to wrestle at The Hive, and a path forward for the 2025-26 winter season. 

“I learned so much from the sport,” said Coach Baatar, who was an NCAA Division III All-American wrestler at St. John’s University in Minnesota. “Why shouldn’t the girls have it, as well?” The new Head Girls Wrestling Coach brings more than just wrestling experience to the role. His coaching approach is guided by prioritizing the mental and physical well-being of student-athletes. “Winning will come,” said Coach Baatar, who recently completed the intensive International Coaching Enrichment program sponsored by the International Olympic Committee. The main goal in building the program is “to develop a team that is healthy and supportive of each other.”

Coach Baatar and his wife, Maggie Kalinowski, are Leahy House parents. “My heart is here with St. Benedict’s Prep,” said the coach who lived in Leahy House as a student. He’s excited about the season ahead and what the program can do for young women. “Wrestling is a tough sport,” he acknowledged. “It gives you a chance to work on yourself and the results are immediate. It’s a good tool to grow.” 

The girls’ wrestling team will compete in the NJSIAA. Matches begin in December. Follow the team’s progress on Instagram @graybeesports.