Read more: National, Elissa Reinsma, Gender, Wrestler, First, Female, Girl, Xcel, High School
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Elissa Reinsma is set to make history Wednesday night when she becomes the first female wrestler in the history of the Minnesota state tournament.
She wrestles at 103 pounds out of Fulda/Murray County Central and the sophomore has already had a solid career wrestling against boys.
She was the top seed in her section when she qualified for the tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, even though she lost her section final to a boy she'd beaten before.
Her parents aren't too surprised that their daughter had broken through the 72-year-gender barrier at the tournament. Her father, Brad, says Elissa has got drive and hates to lose.
Elissa says that qualifying for state has taken a lot of the pressure off her, which means she can now just go out there and wrestle.
