Wrestle like a girl, Kofa student strives to make a difference in wrestling

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Wrestling seemed to be fading across the country until tournaments for girls came about.

There is now an increase in women participating and representing a sport that was once dominated by men.

Just a few years ago, "the norm" was not always having women wrestle.

There were no tournaments or specific teams for women. But within recent years that has changed.

The biggest increase came just after the Arizona Interscholastic Association officially began to recognize women's wrestling as a sport.

Yuma Union High School District is contributing to this increase by having a dedicated women's wrestling coach at all five high schools.

Last year, Carolina Moreno, a junior at Kofa High School, won first place at a state championship tournament.

She wrestled against five different girls and came out number one.

She has been wrestling for five years and said she didn't really care too much about it.

It wasn't until she kept going where she realized her love for the sport. From there, her success in wrestling began.

Kofa High School's girl's wrestling head coach described women in wrestling as a great accomplishment for the culture in general.