Del Oro Girls Wrestling Team Breaking Through Barriers

LOOMIS (CBS13) - These girls are not the ones you want to mess with on campus. They're the Del Oro High School girls wrestling team - and they're one of the biggest in the state.

Their fight is just as ferocious, but it may leave you doing a double take.

"What started as 11 girls in a classroom has grown into one of the biggest teams in California," coach Mike Maben said.

Climbing ropes, practicing takedowns, they're proving girls can do anything.

"It's shown me it's all about the effort you put in," captain Emily Nash said.

At just 5 feet tall, she may be pint-sized, but she packs a mean punch.

"I like the high intensity and adrenaline of it," she said. "There's not a whole lot of sports for girls out there like that."

This team is unique because they're not co-ed and usually wrestle other girls. Their coach says they're learning life lessons on the mat.

"They get in front of their friends in a singlet," Maben said. "They went out there and faced their fears. Other life fears seem to be less important."

And for these girls, it'll take more than breaking a nail to slow them down.

"I've tweaked my neck so I couldn't turn it side to side, jammed my fingers, twisted my ankle, nothing serious," freshman Gabby Nordquist said.

At least no broken bones - yet. These are not the girls to mess with on campus.

"I like that not a lot of girls do it and so they kind of look up to you but are also afraid and intimidated," Nordquist said.

The girls are ending their season this weekend at the Masters meet in Stockton.