Wrestling has long been considered a male-dominated sport but girls all over California are trying to change that notion, competing against and alongside boys in high school dual meets and also participating in all-girl tournaments that are popping up statewide.

At the all-girl Northern Regionals held Jan. 20 at Liberty High School, three far East County girls earned medals in their respective divisions. Nearly 240 girls attended the event sanctioned by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

Liberty sophomore Brittany David, the only female in the Lion program, went 3-1 in the 146-pound weight class to place third out of 13 division competitors. David's only loss was to Monte Vista senior Natalie Bierwith, ranked No. 2 in Northern California in her division.

Pittsburg High sophomore Brittani Romero placed fourth in the 122-pound division, beating four of six opponents. Her teammate, senior Cristabel Mendoza, placed sixth in the 98-pound division, going 3-3 on the day.

Pittsburg High sophomore Brittani Romero applies a half Nelson to freshman teammate Justine McPeters during last month's CIF Northern Regionals. Romero beat McPeters by decision and went on to place fourth in the 122-pound weight class.

"I think this is something that is going to take time to develop," Chappel said. "The people who really want to see girls wrestling grow want to see it happen in their daughter's time but it's more reasonable to think it'll happen in their granddaughter's time."

The fact also remains that while some 20,000 girls in the state compete in softball each season, the sport still doesn't have its own state championship.

While the future of the regional tournaments is still in the hands of the Wrestling Advisory Committee, girls currently competing in the sport are hoping to one day see it reach the level of boys wrestling.

"It's a really good sport for girls," Romero said. "I'd like to see it get bigger and bigger. That would be great."