A U.S. high school girl captured an individual wrestling state title on Wednesday, after competing with boys without any advantageous rules.
Danielle Coughlin, 18, a senior at North Andover High School in Massachusetts, took part in the 106-pound weight class at the state’s Division II tournament and won the state championship.
“I actually like almost cried. That was probably the best moment of my life,” Coughlin told CBS News after the game.
“I don’t think of my gender as a disadvantage in any way. In the 106 weight class I think it’s more just skill, whoever’s better,” she said.
The female wrestler’s coach Carl Cincotta said that Coughlin was different from the beginning.
“She works at all her techniques, she focuses on eating right, weightlifting, wrestling, she just does it all,” the coach told ABC News.
Coughlin became a wrestler following her brother, Larry Coughlin, who previously won the state title and currently works as a coach at the high school.
The wrestler’s team “North Andover” also secured its fourth consecutive victory at the state tournament.