NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (WHDH) -- A North Andover girl has won an individual state championship for the first time in the history of Massachusetts high school wrestling.

North Andover senior Danielle Coughlin won in the 106-pound weight class at Wednesday's Division 2 state tournament in Marshfield.

“Getting that state title, that’s what I’ve been working for for all these eight years and it just makes it all worthwhile,” said Coughlin

Coughlin has been wrestling since the fifth grade and her brother is also a former state champ. But when she asked her parents for permission, they were reluctant.

Coughlin finally convinced her parents to let her wrestle, and her persistence and hard work has paid off. Now when she hits the mat, she doesn’t even think about being the only girl competing, she knows only to be the best wrestler in the room.

“A lot of them are nervous, I think they’re a little bit reluctant to want to go against a girl, but anybody who’s serious about the sport will take me as a serious opponent. If they want to win, they won’t go easy on me,” Coughlin said.

“Any person that comes into the wrestling room, there’s a protocol; you work hard. These are the things that we’re going to do and we’re not going to change for anybody,” Coach Carl Cincotta said. “So if you can go through it, whether you’re a boy or a girl, then you’re on the team.”

Cincotta says her early triumph was the key to paving the way for the team title.

"Obviously, they voted her as a captain. She's captain of one of the best programs in the state," Cincotta said.

Coughlin said she isn't ruling out wrestling at the college level.