Wayne County schools sent six wrestlers to the Indiana High School Girls Wrestling State finals, held at Kokomo High School on Friday, Jan. 12, and two of them brought home medals.
Northeastern junior Heather Crull was the state champion in the 105-pound weight class. Heather qualified for the state meet by winning the semi-state. She was all business. She won every match by pin to improve to 22-0 on the season. She pinned her opponent in less than 30 seconds in three of her four matches.
Northeastern freshman Olivia Crull, who also qualified for the state meet by winning the semi-state, was the third-place finisher in the 110-pound weight class. Her only loss in four matches came at the hands of a previous state champion.
The success of the Crull sisters propelled Northeastern to a fifth-place finish in the final team standings.
Hagerstown freshman Abbie Gilbert qualified for the state meet by finishing fourth in the semi-state. Gilbert, wrestling in the 130-pound weight class, lost her opening round match.
Centerville junior Tzuri Phillips, who qualified for the state meet by finishing second in the semi-state, lost her first-round match wrestling in the 120-pound weight class.
Centerville junior Carissa Shadle, who qualified for the state meet by finishing fourth in the semi-state, lost her first-round match wrestling in the 135-pound weight class.
Richmond senior Ashley Sparks, who qualified for the state meet by finishing fourth in the semi-state, lost her first match wrestling in the 170-pound weight class.
Because the Indiana High School Athletic Association considers girls wrestling an emerging sport, all six wrestlers remain eligible to participate in the boys state wrestling tournament.
Top five teams: New Haven 90, Southport 72, Indian Creek 52, West Lafayette 48, Northeastern 47.
A version of this article appeared in the January 17 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.