A North Andover high school student has made Massachusetts history as the first girl to win an individual state championship in high school wrestling.
North Andover senior Danielle Coughlin won in the 106-pound weight class at the Division 2 state tournament in Marshfield yesterday, just beating out Winchester in the final round.
Coughlin said she’s overwhelmed by the idea of making history, but the victory was well earned.
“I’ve been working for it for 8 years and just to win by two points shows just how tough this sport is,” she said.
Coughlin’s victory also helped North Andover win the team title for the fourth consecutive year.
“That was our goal from freshman year when we realized we had a pretty solid team and we could continue winning if we all kept it up, and I knew going out in the mat that it wasn’t just my own state title, it was my entire team’s on my back that I had to do my best, and I had to win it for them, too,” Coughlin said.
Although Coughlin is the team captain and well-known as the only female varsity member, she said people are still surprised to learn that she wrestles boys, but added it's something she has "gotten used to,” over the years.
