OLDHAM COUNTY, Ky. — Oldham County High School is known for producing some of Kentucky's most successful wrestlers. In 2016, the school won 6 straight regional titles.

Now, a middle schooler is following in her family’s footsteps, hoping to add to the sport’s rich history.

Millet working on wrestling moves with a teammate during practice. (Spectrum News 1/Erin Wilson)

In a sport dominated by boys, one girl is hoping to make a change. That girl is 8th grader Tatum Millet.

“It's kind of fun knowing that I can beat some of the boys but sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,” Tatum Millet said.

Millet has been wrestling since the 4th grade and had no doubts about turning back.

Tatum Millet posing for a picture during her youth wrestling days. (Toni Millet)

“Well, I always just tell her he’s probably going to be stronger than you so you need to be smart about the techniques you try and use and your game plan going into it,” Josh Riordan, wrestling coach at Oldham County Middle School said. “I don't know if that's always the case, I've seen some guys she's manhandled so she's tough.”

That’s no surprise. The sport runs in the Millet family bloodline.

“My dad wrestled, my brother wrestled and it's just a thing that's run through my family,” Millet said. “I like knowing that I can carry it on. It's a lot but it's so fun and I love being dedicated to it.”

But what you don't see behind the pins and take downs is what it takes to step onto the mat, including weigh-ins. 

“I've slept in sweatpants, sweatshirts, I've sat in front of heaters, I spit in a cup, I drink mostly water. stuff like that, it’s a lot. My friend, he spits in a bottle during school, gross,” Millet said.

An aspect to the sport her father is glad has changed over the years.

“When I was wrestling the coaches really didn't take into account how a person lost weight, they just wanted you to lose the weight,” Tony Millet, Tatum’s dad said. “Now Oldham County has physical trainers and they make sure the individuals will follow a plan to maintain their weight loss and lose weight appropriately.”

Millet is excited to see his son and daughter both following in his footsteps.

“I absolutely love it because wrestling is a sport that builds a lot of self-confidence,” Tony Millet said. “It builds a lot of confidence in the individual and wrestling is not a sport where you have to win, you have to lose, you don't get a participation award, you take whatever you come out with.”

Tatum Millet's wall of accomplishments while competing in wrestling, cross-country, track and lacrosse. (Spectrum News 1/Erin Wilson)

Something Tatum is quite familiar with but it's not the hardware she hopes to bring home at the end of the day, it's the growth of love for the sport.

“I feel like that would be a lot to show girls, if girls are up in the stands and they see me win, I would really like to inspire them to start wrestling,” Tatum Millet said.

Tatum hopes to eventually win a state title and will get the chance to as she competes for the All-Girl State Wrestling Tournament later this season.