Recording a pin in your first varsity match can be a priceless moment.

For Catasauqua’s Juliza Rodriguez, it was a breathtaking moment.

“Yes, it was an amazing feeling,” she recalled. “The first time out there was very scary, and I didn’t know what to expect.

“I was very nervous when the match started, and then I settled down.”

The senior recorded a fall in the Rough Riders’ invitational tournament in the 132-pound bracket. She and freshman Caroline Rodriguez are the lone female wrestlers on the Roughies’ squad.

Female wrestlers are a growing part of programs in the Lehigh Valley and throughout the country, and Roughies’ head coach Joe Russo has taken it in stride.

“They are usually the first two in the room,” said Russo. “I think it is kind of neat. There are more and more girl wrestlers on teams, and these two have done everything we have asked of them.

“They are two of our hardest workers and have really caught on with everything fast. They were readily accepted by the rest of the team, and they have been fully supported.”

However, girls in wrestling apparently haven’t been fully accepted. During a dual meet with another Colonial League school, Rodriguez was severely heckled.

“I was surprised it happened,” noted Rodriguez. “I had people there cheering me on, but grown men there were yelling at me and telling me that girls shouldn’t be wrestling. It was scary for a little bit, but I just went about what I was doing.

“I was surprised people would criticize me for it because none of the wrestlers did. I hope they realize what they did was wrong. I figured I would get some backlash, but I didn’t think it would be that bad.”

“That was a shame,” added Russo. “Coming from a Catholic school crowd, I was surprised. But Juliza and Caroline are both tough, and they can deal with the criticism. The girls and the team were able to move on from it.”

Barring an injury or a last-minute replacement, Rodriguez’s short-lived, high school wrestling career is over. She compiled an overall 4-9 slate and a 1-2 record against only girls.

Through it all, she hasn’t had any regrets. In fact, it was an assumed feeling that prevented her from joining earlier.

“I thought wrestling was just for boys,” she said. “I thought about it before, but I didn’t know I could do it.

“I played field hockey and powder puff football, and have participated in track. There was some contact in those sports, so I became used to the physical part of the sport.”

It didn’t take Rodriguez long to feel welcomed.

“At first, it felt weird being out there with boys,” she said. “I didn’t know what could happen.

“But they quickly made me feel like a teammate, and we’re a big family now. They help and look out for me. My teammates helped me with my confidence, and the coaches have always been there for me. It has been a great feeling.”

Rodriguez plans to attend Kutztown University and pursue a degree in graphic design. She has some regrets, and hasn’t totally ruled wrestling out of the picture, and would consider coaching one day.

“If there is a club in college, I would try it,” she said. “I just wish I would have started earlier. I really enjoyed my time with the sport.”