Sam McClelland caused a stir simply by winning a wrestling match last week. In fact, it brought just about everyone at Culbreth Middle School to their feet, clapping their hands, screaming.

And not just because of the win.

They were excited to see Samantha McClelland pin her opponent.

"Oh my gosh, it was great," says her mother, Carrie McClelland, who before the match had some concerns, as did Sam's father, Randy.

"We were just hoping everything would be all right and that she wouldn't get hurt. But she got right in there and pinned him. Everyone was standing and screaming. A coach jumped up on a table and was going wild."

Samantha is the first female to wrestle in a middle school match in this area, and is among the first on a school varsity in North Carolina. A female high school student reached the NCHSAA tournament last year, where she went 1-1 in competition.

Culbreth revived its dormant wrestling program last month, after the season had already started, with just two students, head coach Ciaran Harris and assistant Craig Samuels. Now, with Samantha and another girl -- Allison Valdez, along with her brother John Valdez -- as the most recent additions, the Cougars have up to 18 wrestlers.

They've yet to find an official opponent for Samantha. Her male counterpart at 114 pounds earned the starter's spot for the Cougars' first dual meet in which she was eligible. Friday's opponent, Phillips Middle School, forfeited at 114, but offered Samantha a chance to wrestle a lighter opponent, at 99 pounds, in an exhibition.

The match went into the third period before she won by pinning him.

"It was a little confusing," she said. "I knew I had pinned him. But I couldn't figure out why everyone was jumping up and down and screaming. People were going completely insane."

The Culbreth seventh-grader, who's tried soccer, swimming and field hockey, likes wrestling and wants to keep with it.

"It's great. You get to take someone down and don't get in trouble for it," she says. "It's just really fun."

Her mother says she's not surprised her daughter has taken to the sport.

"It's a great fit for her," Carrie says. "Samantha is tough. Rugby would be perfect for her."

Contact the CHN Sports Department at (919) 932-8743 or e-mail chnsports@nando.com.