Pinal Today

Coolidge High School student Karen "Trailblazer" Garcia signed to wrestle at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, making her the first female wrestler signed to compete in college at the school. 

"Wrestling a male actually makes you feel stronger. Wrestling is more a mental sport than physical," Garcia said, Pinal Central reported.

"I'm hoping this inspires others to join the team," Garcia said. "I know a couple girls who are interested, so I'm hoping to come back here next year and see them on the team.

It was initially a bit of a surprise to see Garcia on the team because the last time she competed in a formal setting was when she was in the sixth grade. But she isn't the one to blame because girls' wrestling became a sport of its own only a couple of years ago. 

"Early on, I knew I had to put in the work and I had to give it my all," Garcia said. "It was terrifying, because I had a tendency to look at my opponents' records, but my coaches told me records mean absolutely nothing."

Garcia said the girls at Waldorf seemed close, like sisters, when she visited the campus.

"That's the type of group I want to be a part of," she said.