Historic HS Female Wrestler Worked 'Twice As Hard' Beating Boys

SEAFORD, NY — "I knew I was one of a very few females wrestling in Nassau County, but I didn't realize how historic [my] placing was," Seaford High School sophomore Ashley Diaz told Patch.

On Feb. 12, Diaz finished fifth and earned a visit to the podium in her weight class (118 pounds) in the Nassau County Division II, Sectional Tournament.

She becomes the first female to place among top finishers in the county wrestling competition.

"I was really happy with myself," she said. "I was really proud."

Without separate sanctioned wrestling events for girls, Diaz is forced to take on her male counterparts, making it even harder.

"Boys are naturally a lot stronger than me, so I have to work twice as hard as them," Diaz admitted.

Putting in the hard work has led to respect from her male competitors.

"I feel it really shows that it's something that women can do and it puts women's wrestling in the right direction," Diaz said. "It draws more attention to women's wrestling."

She hopes to continue showing off her athletic prowess on the mat in college.

That day in Cold Spring Harbor, Diaz was victorious in three of her matches.

"I was glad that I was able to accomplish what I wanted to do at County's, and that was to not just be a girl wrestling but to be a competitor," she said. "I'm glad I get to be seen as a competitor by [the boys]."