Alabama Girls State Tournament

Seventy five girls from 24 schools descended on Hoover High School yesterday to take part in Alabama’s first ever State Tournament. Daphne edged Thompson for the first ever team title and 11 wrestlers took home an individual championship. WS Neal finished 3rd in the team race followed by Northside Methodist Academy in 4th, and Auburn and Enterprise were 5th.

A link to the pics.

95lb. Champion Lynleigh Weltzin (Thompson)

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  • 1st Lynleigh Weltzin of Thompson

  • 2nd Erin Clarkson of Auburn

  • 3rd Bailey Weismann of Thompson

Weltzin pinned Erik Clarkson in the 2nd period to claim the 95 lb. title.

105lb. Champion Evelyn Holmes-Smith (Enterprise)

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  • 1st: Evelyn Holmes-Smith of Enterprise

  • 2nd: Mariah Jones of Central

  • 3rd: Ellan Lassere of Daphne

  • 4th: Zoey Bair of Thompson

Holmes-Smith pinned Kaylan Brown and Emily Hill before downing Mariah Jones to claim the 105 lb. title.

115 lb. Champion Aenaya Vines (Thompson)

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  • 1st: Aenaya Vines of Thompson

  • 2nd: Rachel Daisley of Russell County

  • 3rd: Mia Duran of Spanish Fort

  • 4th: Carlie Tait of W. S. Neal

Vines pinned Carlie Tait and Kaylee Kelley to advance to the finals. In a back and forth match, probably the bets of the finals, Vines came back from down 5-2 to lead 9-7 before getting the fall over Dailey and claiming the 115 lb. title.

120 lb. Champion Carly Thomas (Bob Jones)

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  • 1st: Carly Thomas of Bob Jones

  • 2nd: Alexis Edwards of Beauregard

  • 3rd: Kara Whitehead of Northside Methodist

  • 4th: Hannah McNeese of Daphne

Carly Thomas of Bob Jones dominated the 120 lb. weight class. She pinned Hoover Lex Aruajo and Daphne’s Hannah McNeese in a minute each to advance to the finals. Thomas did the same thing in the finals - pinning Edwards in a minute and 17 seconds to claim the 120 lb. title.

130 lb. Champion fabiola Sanchez (Auburn)

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  • 1st: Fabiola Sanchez of Auburn

  • 2nd: Raya Carpenter of Tuscaloosa County

  • 3rd: Kathryn Alvis of Oak Mountain

  • 4th: Loriah Castro of Enterprise HS

Sanchez had 3 falls en route to the finals opposite Carpenter. Carpenter led 2-0 going into the 2nd and then rallied to take a 5-4 lead before getting the fall and claiming the 130 lb. title.

140 lb. Champion lena johannson (weaver)

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  • 1st: Lena Johannson of Weaver

  • 2nd: Yasmine Oliveria of Spain Park

  • 3rd Reagan Grant of Sparkman

  • 4th Estrella Islas of Thompson

In a matchup of two dominant 140 lbers … Johannon came out on top with a 2nd period pin. Both dominated to get to the finals and we finished the 1st period scoreless. Oliveria chose bottom and that was all Johannson would need to claim the 140 lb. title.

150 lb. Champion jade eldridge (wetumpka)

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  • 1st: Jade Eldridge of Wetumpka

  • 2nd: Akerah Artis of Sparkman

  • 3rd: Sage Adams of Daphne

  • 4th: Brynleigh Glover of Thompson

Wetumpka’s Eldridge ran through the 150 lb. bracket. She got a DQ over Sage Adams (who was 3rd), a fall over Brynleigh Glover (who finished 4th), and then pinned Akerah Artis of Sparkman in the 1st period to claim the 150 lb. title

165 lb. Champion Kaylee Holder (Daphne)

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  • 1st: Kaylee Holder of Daphne

  • 2nd: Megan Chandler of Northside Methodist

  • 3rd: Hayleigh Gideons of W. S. Neal

  • 4th: Amber Bearden of Pinson Valley

Holder came up big for her squad. She was the last Daphne wrestler in the finals that could help the team overcome Thompson. Her fall of Chandler put Daphne in the lead (and ultimately the champs) in the team race.

185 lb. Champion Viskya Lantzsch (W. S. Neal)

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  • 1st Place: Viskya Lantzsch of W. S. Neal

  • 2nd Place: Rachel Crowe of Thompson

  • 3rd Place: Katey Quebodeaux of Thompson

  • 4th Place: Kylie Mackey of Russell County

Not sure who was more excited when Lantzsch got the fall over Rachel Crowe - WS Neal or Daphne. Neal crowned their first state champ, but Daphne secured the team title.

225 lb. Champion Aniyah Griffin (pinson valley)

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  • 1st: Aniyah Griffin of Pinson Valley

  • 2nd: Olivia Lanier of Foley

Just two wrestlers at 225 and Aniyah Griffin took care of business - getting two falls in their best 2 out of 3.

285 lb. Champion emily sasser (daphne)

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  • 1st: Emily Sasser of Daphne

  • 2nd: Leona Kenny-Parkman of John Carroll

Just two wrestlers at 285 and Emily Sasser took care of business - getting two falls in their best 2 out of 3.

Apologies to Emily and Leona … it doesn’t appear that they wrestled their 2nd match at the end and I must’ve missed getting pics.

 
Jason FulmoreComment