NEW YORK, March 6 (UPI) -- The queens of New York City wrestling say they are thrilled to take part in the city's first high school tournament for girls only.
About 50 female wrestlers from New York junior and senior high schools hit the mats at a SoHo gym Sunday in a tourney that pits girls against girls rather than boys they usually have to contend with on their school teams.
"Girl wrestling is legit, and this tournament proves it," said Nyasa Bakker, 16, a junior at Wingate High School in Brooklyn. "It will be just as competitive as any boys' match."
The New York Daily News said here are a few dozen girls on school wrestling teams in the city and about 400 boys. That means the girls are usually pitted against boys who are naturally stronger.
That seeming disadvantage has not dissuaded the increasing popularity of girl's wrestling.
"More girls are wrestling every year," said Cheryl Wong, a wrestling coach and one of the organizers of the tournament.
