Arbor View freshman wrestler Angie Mayes, left, helps her team give Josh Epps support Wednesday before his match against Cheyenne. Mayes is 11-8 at 119 pounds this season against mostly boys, and she is 10-1 in girls tournaments in California this season. Photo by John Locher.

It's tough enough to make a varsity team as a freshman. But when the freshman in question is a female in a male-dominated sport such as wrestling, the challenge is even more daunting.

Earning a spot on the Arbor View varsity wrestling squad is only one goal on a list of many that freshman Angie Mayes hopes to accomplish, though.

Mayes, who has compiled an 11-8 record at 119 pounds this season against mostly boys, is also 10-1 in girls prep tournaments in California this season.

Mayes, who moved to Las Vegas from Lafayette, Calif., in August, is one of the top-ranked girls in her weight class in California, where high school girls wrestling is widespread.

She has won three of four tournaments she's competed in this season in California, and she hopes to qualify for the girls national freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments this year.

"Wrestling here in high school is big for me, and going to challenge girls is big for me, too," Mayes said. "When I go on the mat, I tell myself it doesn't matter who I'm wrestling or how good they are, it's how bad do I want to beat them. I just say to myself, 'You're going to do it, Angie.' "

Mayes, who was introduced to the sport by her father, former prep wrestling coach Nicky Mayes, will try to qualify for nationals in events in Kentucky and Missouri over the next few weeks.

She also has her sights set on qualifying for the prep girls world championships, earning a college scholarship in women's wrestling and competing in the Olympics.

"I'm going to give it all I can and work as hard as I can to try to get it," she said.

Arbor View coach Jeff Bzoskie said Mayes, who had to earn her spot on the squad by beating a couple boys in her weight class, already has established herself as a team leader.

"She's the toughest kid in that weight class," he said. "She's the best wrestler in our room, technically speaking, and her work ethic is phenomenal. She's our leader.

"She has great determination for the sport. She trains hard and she works out at home with her dad."

Mayes, a B student who aspires to earn 12 varsity letters in high school -- in volleyball, wrestling and softball -- said she used to get teased in middle school about wrestling but added that she has earned the respect of her high school teammates.

"Mostly guys get intimidated by me and some overreact, but they respect me for being out here," she said. "On the mat, they treat me like another guy and I treat myself like that, too. I'm not any different from anyone else on the mat and I respect them for treating me like that."

Bzoskie, who has coached wrestling for 15 years, said he wasn't sure what to expect from Mayes at first.

"I was kind of hesitant myself, but after seeing her go at it, it was amazing to see her beat these boys," he said. "Initially, boys are hesitant when they have to wrestle her, but after they see her work ethic and how good she is, she fits right in. Everyone comes over after a match and says, 'she's tough.' She's all girl, but when it comes to wrestling, she's all business.

"She's very well-rounded. She's good on her feet and good on the mat. If she had more strength, she could go against anybody in the city. She just lacks the strength of a boy."

Mayes agreed.

"I hope by next year I'm able to go to state, but I don't have enough strength yet," she said. "It's the strength that usually holds me back, but I'm starting to get more into weight training."