ARCADIA, Ind. (WTHR) – Friday was ladies night in Arcadia. Girls grappled on three mats at Hamilton Heights High School at the inaugural Indiana High School Girls Wrestling (IHSGW) State Finals.
The first time event was organized by Hamilton Heights wrestling coach Gary Myers with the blessing of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA).
"You talk about pioneering in a lot of different things," said Myers, "but nobody has touched women's wrestling. They've not even come close to saying, 'Hey! How would you girls like an even playing field?' To get it started, it's a pioneering moment."
Regionals were held in Rochester and Franklin, with 86 girls from 49 Indiana high schools advancing to the state finals. At most meets, the ladies have to wrestle against boys in their weight class.
"We started this to give the girls a chance to wrestle amongst their peers instead of always going to the sectional against the boys and regional against boys," said Myers. "We wanted to see them compete against each other and have that outlet. Definitely the difference is the strength. It plays a lot into it. These girls are actually technically sometimes better than my boys. I think you see that in the Olympics."
Yorktown's Alara Boyd started wrestling when she was four years old. She won a bronze medal at the Cadet World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, last fall at age 15. Friday she won the first ever Indiana girls state title at 138 pounds by fall at 1:23 of the first round over Camyle Cain of Jeffersonville High School.
"I think it's awesome," said Boyd. "It's very huge. It's a boom in women's wrestling because there's a lot of states that don't have it and it's making them push to have a fully sanctioned women's wrestling program. When I wrestle guys I kind of have like a disadvantage, but not when I'm wrestling girls. We're all kind of equal, so it's a lot nicer."
A large group of family and friends decked out in green watched Boyd win with pins in both of her matches Friday. Boys with letters painted on their bare chests spelled out her name. She is the only girl on the Yorktown wrestling team, practicing and competing against boys.
"They understand that I'm competing at the world level," said Boyd. "They just push me. It honestly helps me a lot in the international and even the state competition. It's pretty cool because it shows all my hard work has paid off, like wrestling guys. Now I get to wrestle girls and show that I've worked hard at it."
Other state champions from central Indiana included Markaela Pugh of Hamilton Heights (106 pounds), Selina Brown of Monrovia (126), Jada Jackson of Pike (132), Alexis Bernal of Lebanon (145), Sabrina Pedroza of Avon (152), Jessica Moore of Richmond (170), Jazmyn Noaks of Richmond (182), Kayla Hawthorne of Crispus Attucks (195), and Abby Kimes of North Putnam (285).
Organizers hope this first time event eventually becomes sanctioned by the IHSAA. For now, the ladies wrestle for respect.
"My goal is just to get it off the ground to show the IHSAA what it looks like," said Myers. "They can take it over two, three years from now or even next year. It's up to them when they want to take the ball. I just want to show them how it looks and they can take over. I'm fine with that."
Penn High School won the state team championship.
Indiana High School Girls Wrestling State Finals Results
HS Girls - 88
1st Place - Jaden Johnson of Penn
2nd Place - Virginia Graf of Terre Haute North
3rd Place - Ellizbeth Hunter of Hamilton Heights
Round 1
Round 1 - Virginia Graf (Terre Haute North) won by fall over Ellizbeth Hunter (Hamilton Heights) (Fall 3:21)
Round 2
Round 2 - Jaden Johnson (Penn) won by fall over Ellizbeth Hunter (Hamilton Heights) (Fall 5:48)
Round 3
Round 3 - Jaden Johnson (Penn) won by fall over Virginia Graf (Terre Haute North) (Fall 1:34)
HS Girls - 98
1st Place - Destiny Garris of Evansville Central High School
2nd Place - Brooke Jackson of Muncie Central
3rd Place - Eryn Benak of Penn
4th Place - Fidelina Diaz of Scottsburg High School
Round 1
Round 1 - Eryn Benak (Penn) won by fall over Fidelina Diaz (Scottsburg High School) (Fall 1:18)
Round 1 - Destiny Garris (Evansville Central High School) won by fall over Brooke Jackson (Muncie Central) (Fall 1:58)
Round 2
Round 2 - Destiny Garris (Evansville Central High School) won by tech fall over Eryn Benak (Penn) (TF 19-4)
Round 2 - Brooke Jackson (Muncie Central) won by fall over Fidelina Diaz (Scottsburg High School) (Fall 0:45)
Round 3
Round 3 - Brooke Jackson (Muncie Central) won by fall over Eryn Benak (Penn) (Fall 1:17)
Round 3 - Destiny Garris (Evansville Central High School) won by fall over Fidelina Diaz (Scottsburg High School) (Fall 1:17)
HS Girls - 106
1st Place - Markaela Pugh of Hamilton Heights
2nd Place - Willoe Cunnington of Daleville High School
3rd Place - Kyndel Huey of Jay County
4th Place - Emma Mensendiek of Columbus East
5th Place - Amelia Pellman of Salem
6th Place - Leah Partin of Madison Consolidated
7th Place - Jaylyn Lawrence of Madison Consolidated
8th Place - Ruthie Satchell of Lafayette Jefferson
1st Place Match
1st Place Match - Markaela Pugh (Hamilton Heights) won by major decision over Willoe Cunnington (Daleville High School) (Maj 12-4)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Kyndel Huey (Jay County) won by fall over Emma Mensendiek (Columbus East) (Fall 2:51)
5th Place Match
5th Place Match - Amelia Pellman (Salem) won by fall over Leah Partin (Madison Consolidated) (Fall 0:14)
7th Place Match
7th Place Match - Jaylyn Lawrence (Madison Consolidated) won by tech fall over Ruthie Satchell (Lafayette Jefferson) (TF 19-3)
HS Girls - 113
1st Place - Mallory Engle of Columbia City
2nd Place - Leslie Morales of Pike
3rd Place - Annalyse Dooley of West Vigo
4th Place - Jade Zorn of Jay County
5th Place - Justyce Walker of Muncie Central
6th Place - Keara Wisek of River Forest
7th Place - Jaryn Strong of Terre Haute South
8th Place - Krist Mishler of Westview
1st Place Match
1st Place Match - Mallory Engle (Columbia City) won by fall over Leslie Morales (Pike) (Fall 5:34)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Annalyse Dooley (West Vigo) won by decision over Jade Zorn (Jay County) (Dec 6-3)
5th Place Match
5th Place Match - Justyce Walker (Muncie Central) won by decision over Keara Wisek (River Forest) (Dec 4-1)
7th Place Match
7th Place Match - Jaryn Strong (Terre Haute South) won by decision over Krist Mishler (Westview) (Dec 5-0)
HS Girls - 120
1st Place - Caitlin Clark of Calumet High School
2nd Place - Sophia Thompson of Avon High School
3rd Place - Chloe Harding of South Bend Saint Joseph
4th Place - Devyn Byars of Pendleton Heights
5th Place - Haley Clifford of Manchester High School
6th Place - Jen Anderson of Lafayette Jefferson
7th Place - Isabella Storey of River Forest
1st Place Match
1st Place Match - Caitlin Clark (Calumet High School) won by fall over Sophia Thompson (Avon High School) (Fall 1:33)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Chloe Harding (South Bend Saint Joseph) won by decision over Devyn Byars (Pendleton Heights) (Dec 6-0)
5th Place Match
5th Place Match - Haley Clifford (Manchester High School) won by fall over Jen Anderson (Lafayette Jefferson) (Fall 2:06)
7th Place Match
7th Place Match - Isabella Storey (River Forest) received a bye () (Bye)
HS Girls - 126
1st Place - Selina Brown of Monrovia
2nd Place - Alyssa Schuller of Woodlan
3rd Place - Alise Terhune of Warren Central High School
4th Place - Sydney Sims of North Putnam
5th Place - Idalis Alvarez-Loza of River Forest
6th Place - Kayla Taylor of Madison Consolidated
7th Place - Jo Ellen Doyle of Lafayette Jefferson
8th Place - Sarah Rowe of Delphi
1st Place Match
1st Place Match - Selina Brown (Monrovia) won by major decision over Alyssa Schuller (Woodlan) (Maj 13-2)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Alise Terhune (Warren Central High School) won by fall over Sydney Sims (North Putnam) (Fall 2:24)
5th Place Match
5th Place Match - Idalis Alvarez-Loza (River Forest) won by fall over Kayla Taylor (Madison Consolidated) (Fall 0:47)
7th Place Match
7th Place Match - Jo Ellen Doyle (Lafayette Jefferson) won by decision over Sarah Rowe (Delphi) (Dec 5-2)
HS Girls - 132
1st Place - Jada Jackson of Pike
2nd Place - Jael Martin of Michigan City HIgh School
3rd Place - Makayla Scarborough of New Prairie
4th Place - Kaylee Clendenen of Pendleton Heights
5th Place - Couirtney West of Eastern (Pekin)
6th Place - Tamia McCoy of Arsenal Technical
7th Place - Stella Cooley of Lafayette Jefferson
8th Place - Christina Klefeker of Huntington North
1st Place Match
1st Place Match - Jada Jackson (Pike) won by decision over Jael Martin (Michigan City HIgh School) (Dec 10-5)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Makayla Scarborough (New Prairie) won by fall over Kaylee Clendenen (Pendleton Heights) (Fall 1:19)
5th Place Match
5th Place Match - Couirtney West (Eastern (Pekin)) won by medical forfeit over Tamia McCoy (Arsenal Technical ) (MFF)
7th Place Match
7th Place Match - Stella Cooley (Lafayette Jefferson) won by fall over Christina Klefeker (Huntington North) (Fall 3:53)
HS Girls - 138
1st Place - Alara Boyd of Yorktown High School
2nd Place - Camyle Cain of Jeffersonville High School
3rd Place - Melody Barrows of Westfield
4th Place - Malia Guy of Warren Central High School
5th Place - Alexis Garwood of Penn
6th Place - Natalia Catanzarite of South Bend Saint Joseph
7th Place - Olivia Denham of Hamilton Heights
1st Place Match
1st Place Match - Alara Boyd (Yorktown High School) won by fall over Camyle Cain (Jeffersonville High School) (Fall 1:23)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Melody Barrows (Westfield) won by fall over Malia Guy (Warren Central High School) (Fall 2:14)
5th Place Match
5th Place Match - Alexis Garwood (Penn) won by fall over Natalia Catanzarite (South Bend Saint Joseph) (Fall 1:00)
7th Place Match
7th Place Match - Olivia Denham (Hamilton Heights) received a bye () (Bye)
HS Girls - 145
1st Place - Alexis Bernal of Lebanon High School
2nd Place - Mikayla Thompson of Concord
3rd Place - Tanisha Jimenez of New Prairie
4th Place - Autumn Terhune of Warren Central High School
5th Place - Alayna Espinoza of Lafayette Jefferson
6th Place - Veronika Russell of Huntington North
1st Place Match
1st Place Match - Alexis Bernal (Lebanon High School) won by decision over Mikayla Thompson (Concord) (Dec 10-3)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Tanisha Jimenez (New Prairie) won by decision over Autumn Terhune (Warren Central High School) (Dec 6-3)
5th Place Match
5th Place Match - Alayna Espinoza (Lafayette Jefferson) won by injury default over Veronika Russell (Huntington North) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match
7th Place Match - () received a bye () (Bye)
HS Girls - 152
1st Place - Sabrina Pedroza of Avon High School
2nd Place - Amaya Sunderman of Huntington North
3rd Place - Rachel Hokoana-Yamaguchi of Seymour High School
4th Place - Addison Baber of Hamilton Heights
5th Place - Madison Burke of Penn
6th Place - Kiera Lindsey of Arsenal Technical
7th Place - Olivia Crose of Lafayette Jefferson
1st Place Match
1st Place Match - Sabrina Pedroza (Avon High School) won by fall over Amaya Sunderman (Huntington North) (Fall 3:43)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Rachel Hokoana-Yamaguchi (Seymour High School) won by decision over Addison Baber (Hamilton Heights) (Dec 7-5)
5th Place Match
5th Place Match - Madison Burke (Penn) won by fall over Kiera Lindsey (Arsenal Technical ) (Fall 4:30)
7th Place Match
7th Place Match - Olivia Crose (Lafayette Jefferson) received a bye () (Bye)
HS Girls - 160
1st Place - Madisyn Todd of Maconaquah
2nd Place - Morgan Caldwell of Penn
3rd Place - Alexis Harbor of Hamilton Heights
4th Place - Courtney Brown of Delphi
Round 1
Round 1 - Alexis Harbor (Hamilton Heights) won by fall over Courtney Brown (Delphi) (Fall 0:15)
Round 1 - Madisyn Todd (Maconaquah) won by fall over Morgan Caldwell (Penn) (Fall 2:53)
Round 2
Round 2 - Morgan Caldwell (Penn) won by fall over Alexis Harbor (Hamilton Heights) (Fall 2:14)
Round 2 - Madisyn Todd (Maconaquah) won by fall over Courtney Brown (Delphi) (Fall 0:46)
Round 3
Round 3 - Madisyn Todd (Maconaquah) won by fall over Alexis Harbor (Hamilton Heights) (Fall 1:48)
Round 3 - Morgan Caldwell (Penn) won by fall over Courtney Brown (Delphi) (Fall 1:21)
HS Girls - 170
1st Place - Jessica Moore of Richmond High School
2nd Place - Fernanda Arjona of Penn
3rd Place - Ana Madrano Alveres of Lafayette Jefferson
4th Place - Karissa Bennett of Penn
Round 1
Round 1 - Jessica Moore (Richmond High School) won by fall over Karissa Bennett (Penn) (Fall 1:36)
Round 1 - Fernanda Arjona (Penn) won by fall over Ana Madrano Alveres (Lafayette Jefferson) (Fall 0:23)
Round 2
Round 2 - Jessica Moore (Richmond High School) won in sudden victory - 1 over Ana Madrano Alveres (Lafayette Jefferson) (SV-1 3-1)
Round 2 - Fernanda Arjona (Penn) won by fall over Karissa Bennett (Penn) (Fall 0:34)
Round 3
Round 3 - Jessica Moore (Richmond High School) won by decision over Fernanda Arjona (Penn) (Dec 6-4)
Round 3 - Ana Madrano Alveres (Lafayette Jefferson) won by fall over Karissa Bennett (Penn) (Fall 0:51)
HS Girls - 182
1st Place - Jazmyn Noaks of Richmond High School
2nd Place - Brianna Sauer of LaVille
3rd Place - Jasmine Hale of Pike
4th Place - Bethany Blackwell of Lafayette Jefferson
5th Place - Kaylee Meyers of Penn
1st Place Match
1st Place Match - Jazmyn Noaks (Richmond High School) won by fall over Brianna Sauer (LaVille) (Fall 1:08)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match - Jasmine Hale (Pike) won by fall over Bethany Blackwell (Lafayette Jefferson) (Fall 3:15)
5th Place Match
5th Place Match - Kaylee Meyers (Penn) received a bye () (Bye)
7th Place Match
7th Place Match - () received a bye () (Bye)
HS Girls - 195
1st Place - Kayla Hawthorne of Crispus Attucks MMHS
2nd Place - Aisha Helepa of Penn
Round 1
Round 1 - Kayla Hawthorne (Crispus Attucks MMHS) won by fall over Aisha Helepa (Penn) (Fall 2:59)
Round 2
Round 2 - Kayla Hawthorne (Crispus Attucks MMHS) won by fall over Aisha Helepa (Penn) (Fall 1:05)
Round 3
Round 3 - () won by fall over () (Fall 0:42)
HS Girls - 220
1st Place - Rhiley Shafer of Rochester
2nd Place - Andelisia Henry of Penn
Round 1
Round 1 - Rhiley Shafer (Rochester) won by fall over Andelisia Henry (Penn) (Fall 1:51)
Round 2
Round 2 - Rhiley Shafer (Rochester) won by fall over Andelisia Henry (Penn) (Fall 0:38)
Round 3
HS Girls - 285
1st Place - Abby Kimes of North Putnam
2nd Place - Alyssa Kuta of New Prairie
3rd Place - Mikayla Ringer of Penn
Round 1
Round 1 - Alyssa Kuta (New Prairie) won by fall over Mikayla Ringer (Penn) (Fall 0:56)
Round 2
Round 2 - Abby Kimes (North Putnam) won by fall over Mikayla Ringer (Penn) (Fall 1:03)
Round 3
Round 3 - Abby Kimes (North Putnam) won by decision over Alyssa Kuta (New Prairie) (Dec 3-2)
Team Scores
- Penn 67
- Hamilton Heights 27
- Richmond 25
- Pike 23
- Lafayette Jefferson 22
