Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
HARRISON — Four area girls wrestlers are headed to the first-ever state tournament sponsored by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, including three regional champions.
A total of 16 local female athletes representing four schools competed in the girls regional Sunday, March 5, at Harrison High School.
Winning regional titles locally were Brookville’s Molly Luebke (110 pounds), Northmont’s Lacie Knick (120) and Tri-County North’s Madison Jeffers (155). Joining them at state will be Eaton’s Caroline Klawon, who finished third at 145.
Also placing, but not advancing, were Eaton’s Josephine Elierman, who finished sixth at 105, and Kelin Hasty (6th, 120); Brookville’s Lily Zimmerlin (5th, 155) and Northmont’s Hannah Wilkins (6th, 135).
Luebke pinned her way to a championship. She pinned Kai Walker of Mason in 50 seconds in the quarterfinals. In the semis, she defeated Harrison’s Caiden Baird in 3:09 and she won the final match in 1:13 over New Richmond’s Charley Jones.
Knick won her first three matches by pin before defeating Lyndyn Gibbs of Washington Court House Washington, 18-9 in the final.
Knick pinned Riley Hall of West Clermont in 28 seconds in the first round. In the quarterfinals, she pinned Hasty in 1:22. In the semis, she stuck Kaylee Ramsey of Clinton-Massie in 2:23.
Jeffers also pinned her way to a regional championship.
She opened the tournament with a win in 57 seconds over Ximena Mendoza of Lakota West. In the quarterfinal, she won in 2:59 over Hillsboro’s Natasha Knight and in the semifinal, she beat Jaelyn Arrequin of Harrison in 39 seconds. In the final bout, she topped Rylee Miller of Hamilton Ross in 2:55.
Klawon won her first match by pin in 2:21 over Mayleigh Sharp of Lakota West. In the second round, she scored an 8-1 decision over Mariah Gibson of Chaminade Julienne.
In the semis, she lost by fall in 1:51 to Jesse Foebar of Clermont Northeastern. In the consolation semi she won by fall in 46 seconds to earn a trip to state. She won her third-place match by pin in 1:42.
Also competing but not placing were Eaton’s Peyton Bradham (100), Kyeleigh Gifford (115), Sarah Abner (125) and Evelyn Cole (130); Brookville’s Daisy King (115) and Kylee Jones (120); and Northmont’s Kyleigh Gunter (155) and Reagan Nguyen (115).
The girls state championship will take place Friday-Sunday, March 10-12 at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on Twitter @emowenjr.
