Destiny Nunez: First Female Arkansas State High School Wrestling Champion Crowned

Destiny Nunez made history on Saturday.

The 17-year-old may weigh only 106 pounds, but that and strong grappling skills were all she needed to become the first female ever to win the Arkansas State High School Wrestling Championship.

Nunez, a junior from Beebe High School, has been wrestling competitively for three years, according to THV11.

In comments following her coronation, she said that she planned to continue wrestling for her senior year of high school and on into college.

“There’s not a particular college. I’ve been thinking about it and I haven’t really decided on which college,” she said of her wrestling future.

How does a girl like Destiny Nunez make it in a male-dominated sport, competing directly against guys no less?

“To wrestle guys,” she said, “you have to expect to be wrestled like a guy. Don’t expect them to take it easy on you just because you’re a girl.”

Her work ethic seems to be working.

As for the victory, Nunez seemed restrained though she couldn’t promise that she would stay that way.

“That was pretty big,” she said. “I’m excited about it, but later on I’ll probably be freaking out.”

While girl wrestlers beating boys at the junior high level is not unusual on account of the similarities in body development, the fact that Nunez has been able to keep her success streak going late into high school is possibly the most impressive thing about her story.

Prior to Nunez’ accomplishment this weekend, the last time that a female wrestler had won a state high school wrestling title was in 2013 when Danielle Coughlin, also a 106-pounder, captured the Massachusetts divisional title.

This makes Nunez not only the first in her state but the fifth in the nation to win a high school state title.

While that may not mean the WWE will book her for WrestleMania 31 — though it couldn’t hurt — it certainly does show that women are perfectly capable of handling themselves when evenly matched in a physical sport.

Congratulations, Destiny Nunez, you are a trailblazer.