Wrestler Candace Workman has set the bar very high for girls who wrestle in Utah. She is loved and accepted by her teammates and she finished second in the state at 103 pounds.

Not all girl wrestlers have it so good.

Take Murray High wrestler Bailey Roberts.

Roberts is a 119-pound junior varsity wrestler. Her record is 2-17. Her pair of victories both came from forfeits.

Yet even a short conversation with Roberts and her team reveals that although she has yet to record any real victories, her time spent pinned to a mat has earned her something: respect from some of her teammates.

Though a handful of girls have wrestled for high school programs, acceptance from teammates doesn't always come quickly. Including Roberts, this season five girls tried out for the Murray High wrestling team and were systematically weeded out through the grueling training and conditioning program; all that is except for Roberts.

Not all her teammates are thrilled she's still on the team. She isn't, after all, very good. Still, her determination has won over some on the team.

"She doesn't move off the whistle a lot. She doesn't sprawl, she needs to work on her speed and, oh yeah, she needs to work on her strength too," said Murray team captain Kevin Sierer. "At the start of the season she was getting creamed by guys and now she goes out and at least gives them a challenge."

Wrestlers and coaches alike are hard-pressed to describe her skills as anything more than mediocre. Even Roberts said "come back and interview me when I'm good."

But the sophomore has continued to overlook her shortcomings and has simply stuck it out.

"I believe if you want to wrestle, you should wrestle, but she's proved that she wants to wrestle. She's proved it by sticking it out and working to get better," said Sierer.

And work she has. What the sophomore lacks in wins has been made up for in determination and tenacity.

"We had five girls who tried out and she's the one that stuck it out. At the start of the season I think some of our guys were hard on her, questioning why she was here, but she never faltered," said Murray coach Todd Thompson.