A Fan's Guide to the Tennessee Girls State Tournament

Welcome to the Fan’s Guide for the Tennessee Girls State Tournament

So what is a Fan’s Guide?

The Fan’s Guide is a look at the tournament as a whole and each individual weight class … from a fan’s perspective. But it is not a prediction of who will win or who will make the podium. In fact, a Fan’s Guide is a little different. It is a look at a few individual pieces from each bracket … they include:

  • Favorite: the wrestler that enters the tournament as a section champ and has the best shot to claim the top step.

  • Contenders: a wrestler that finishes 1st or 2nd at sectionals has a decent chance to make the podium … one of the champs and both runners-up should be considered contenders.

  • Darkhorse: someone not on the radar that could make a run

  • Bracketbuster: a wrestler that finished 3rd or 4th in their section, but could make a run for the podium.

Isn’t that kind of a prediction?

Yes and no. I do identify the favorite, but beyond that I have no idea of who will march through the bracket and claim a title (don’t get me wrong - I’ve watched a lot of wrestling this season so I have an idea of what will happen). I could give you an educated guess about a possible finals match and who will make the podium, but in the world of high school wrestling that is dangerous territory. Few wrestlers (if any) are unbeatable … but we do have past results and past accomplishments on which to make a guess or two. In reality, I am as much of a fan as any of you and like to talk wrestling. I hope each athlete goes out and performs to his or her ability and we, as fans, get an opportunity to watch some great wrestling.

Remember the sole purpose of the website, twitter, instagram, fan’s guides, pictures, etc. is to promote the sport in the Southeast. Have a great time this weekend, enjoy the wrestling, and best of luck to everyone competing.

We have looked at Pin-Tn Rankings from February 6th to help evaluate the field in each bracket.

NOTE: ALL INFORMATION BELOW IS ASSUMING THAT THE INFORMATION INPUTTED INTO TRACKWRESTLING EITHER BY THE EVENT DIRECTOR OR THE COACHES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON IS CORRECT.

Team Notes

The table below is a list of every qualifier by school, along with their place. So we could talk about a number of different teams, but in reality there are just a handful that have enough to really make a run for a team title. They are discussed below the table.

Cleveland. The field challenged Cleveland in duals, but slowing down that train this weekend is going to be a tall task. Cleveland brings all 12 to the tournament including 6 that won a Region title last weekend. There are several teams that will be in the hunt with Clarksville (10), Montgomery Central (9), Gibbs, Northwest, etc. but they are all likely battling for the #2 spot. West Creek is certainly a team to watch - they only qualified 6, but 5 were Region Champs and if they can put all 5 in the state finals they could be taking the runner-up trophy home. Like the other tournaments (boys 2A and 1A) going on this weekend - it would be a shock for the favorites to not claim the title, but that doesn’t mean the battle for a top 5 finish won’t be something to watch.

100 lbs.

  • Favorite: Vivian Mariscal (John Overton )

  • Contenders:

    • Ryleigh Sturgill (Baylor School )

    • Cora Finstad (Gibbs)

    • Miranda Robles (Clarksville )

    • Alyssa Archer (Franklin Co. )

  • Darkhorse: Kaeli Cross (Science Hill)

  • Bracketbuster: Makayla Ryans (David Crockett )

  • Thoughts: Mariscal or Sturgill? A returning State Champ and State Runner-up or a newcomer with a ton of talent? I don’t know if Mariscal and Sturgill have crossed paths this year or not, but it seems like a good possibility they will be for the season is finished … with a state title hanging in the balance. Sturgill is ranked #1 by Pin-TN, but Mariscal is the top seed and has been in the state finals in each of the last two seasons. Sturgill has traveled far and wide to get the best competition and if someone doesn’t knock her off this year … she could end up wth four when everything is said and done. That said - there is another freshman in the field that is a legit hammer as well and that’s Cora Finstad (#3 by Pin-TN) of Gibbs. Finstad is legit and shares the bottomside with Sturgill, Evangeline Monge (#6 by Pin-TN) and region runners-up Allie Barker and Zoey Crawford. Mariscal shares the top side with Section 4 Champ Miranda Robles as well as returning State Placer Alyssa Archer (#4 by Pin-TN), Mylee Goodwin (#6 at 107 by Pin-TN) and Makayla Ryans (#5 by Pin-TN).

107 lbs.

  • Favorite: Ellie Underwood (Seymour)

  • Contenders:

    • Payton Agnell (Tullahoma)

    • Jenna Baines (Greeneville)

    • Makya Parker (Cleveland)

    • Gracie Turberville (Montgomery Central)

    • Addyson` Brown (Mcgavock)

  • Darkhorse: Rebecca Humenik (Bartlett)

  • Bracketbuster: Jaden Evans (Alvin C. York Institute)

  • Thoughts: Such a deep weight that could go a ton of different directions. Returning 2021 State Champion and 2022 State Runner-up Jenna Baines is ranked #1 by Pin-TN at 114, but finished 2nd to Ellie Underwood in Section 1. Returning State Runner-up at this weight in 2023, Makya Parker (#1 by Pin-TN) was 2nd to Payton Agnell in Section 2. Underwood is ranked #2 by Pin-TN and Agnell is ranked #3 by Pin-TN and both are also returning State Placers. This weight could be straight chaos. Add in Section 4 Champ and returning State Placer Gracie Tuberville (NR by Pin-TN) as well as #4 by Pin-TN Rebecca Humenik of Bartlett, #5 by Pin-TN Jaden Evans, and Section 3 Champ Addyson Brown of McGavock and you have some outstanding matchups. Parker with Underwood in the top quarter is one to watch as is Baines with Agnell in the bottom quarter. Picking a favorite here is kind of like rolling the dice … anything could come up, but we will go with the top seed Ellie Underwood.

114 lbs.

  • Favorite: Senna Grassman (Cleveland)

  • Contenders:

    • Shyanne Michalski (Northwest)

    • Melanie Val (St. Andrew`s-Sewanee)

    • Esperanza Cruz (Gibbs)

    • Abigail Page (White House Heritage)

  • Darkhorse: Najette Mojica-Soto (West Creek)

  • Bracketbuster: Amanda Thomason (Cheatham Co. Central)

  • Thoughts: I’ve watch returning State Placer Senna Grassman (#2 by Pin-TN) compete a few times and couldn’t be more impressed … she took Mariah Mills to overtime in the Knockout finals and looks poised to make a run to the top step this weekend after claiming the Region 2 title last weekend. The weight is filled with a plethora of returning State Placers including 2x placer Shyanne Michalski of Northwest (#3 by Pin-TN) and 2022 State Champion Melanie Val (#4 by Pin-TN). The two (Michalski and Val) will likely cross paths in the quarters after Val took 2nd to Grassman in Section2 last weekend. Kylie Reeves was 6th last year, Amanda Thomason - our bracktbuster - was 4th in 2021 and Abigail Page who won Region 3 was 6th in 2022. Keep in mind that Grassman beat Michalski 8-5 earlier this season.

120 lbs.

  • Favorite: Nataleigh Shane (Bradley Central)

  • Contenders:

    • Lexi Dean (West Creek)

    • Gracie Voorhies (Seymour)

    • Mya Bundy (Mt. Juliet)

    • Tori Iams (Knoxville Halls)

  • Darkhorse: Ava Johnson (Clarksville)

  • Bracketbuster: Yolanda Rodriguez-Weaser (Kirkwood)

  • Thoughts: Shane is the returning State Runner-up at 114 and comes in ranked #1 by Pin-TN … she Is the only returning placer in the field, but that’s only because some of the freshmen haven’t had an opportunity to make their mark yet. West Creek’s Lexi Dean is one of the best freshmen in the SE an comes in as the 2 seed after going 34-1 this season (her only loss coming to Shane in overtime in late December). Gracie Voorhies is ranked #3 by Pin-TN and won Region 1 over Tori Iams (#4 by Pin-TN) of Knox Halls. Freshman Mya Bundy of Mt Juliet is unranked by Pin-TN but won the Region 3 title. Keep an eye on Ava Johnson of Clarksville (another freshman) … she is 41-6 on the season with 4 losses to Dean.

126 lbs.

  • Favorite: Jes`Onia Barefield (West Creek)

  • Contenders:

    • Jakyra Parker (Cleveland)

    • Abigail Vanderheyden (Siegel)

    • Gabriella Rincon (Bradley Central)

    • Delaney Nichols (Gibbs)

  • Darkhorse: Alex Costello (Science Hill)

  • Bracketbuster: Lili Lentz (Maryville)

  • Thoughts: No returning Champ at the weight, but two that have been to the finals in Jes’Onia Barefield (#1 by Pin-TN) and Gabriella Rincon (#2 by Pin-TN). The two happen to sit in the same quarter of the bracket because Jakyra Parker (#6 Pin-TN) beat Rincon in the Section 2 finals. Abigail Vanderheyden (#5 by Pin-TN) won Region 3 over Shai Ring of Blackman and as a result sits on the bottom side with Parker. She could draw a very tough Alex Costello (#3 by Pin-TN) in the quarters after she took 2nd in region 1 to Delaney Nichols (NR by Pin-TN) of Gibbs.

132 lbs.

  • Favorite: Sophia Satterfield (Knoxville Halls)

  • Contenders:

    • Emery Wilson (Ravenwood)

    • Eleasa Renken (West Creek)

    • Halai Cox (Mcgavock)

    • Stella Wilson (St. Andrew`s-Sewanee)

  • Darkhorse: Gabbie Newton (Jefferson Co)

  • Bracketbuster: Ali Bryant (Blackman)

  • Thoughts: A real discrepancy between seeds and Pin-TN’s rankings here at 132. Returning State Placer Eleasa Renken is the top seed, but isn’t ranked by Pin-TN. She won region 4 over Shyanne Tandy and comes in 32-6 on the season (with several of her losses coming to teammates Dean and Barefield). I assume she has the top seed because she was a region champ and she is tied for the highest returning placer with Halai Cox who took 2nd in Region 3 to Emery Wilson. Cox (#2 by Pin-TN) now shares the 2nd quarter of the bracket with Region 2 Champ Stella Wilson. Emery Wilson (#3 by Pin-TN) shares the bottom side with unbeaten Region 1 Champ Sophia Satterfield (#1 by Pin-TN). Ali Bryant vs. Gabbie Newton is a great first round matchup with the winner likely getting Renken (Bryant beat Renken in mid-January 7-0).

138 lbs.

  • Favorite: Mariana Bowen (West Creek)

  • Contenders:

    • Delilah Queen (Knox Catholic)

    • Jocelyn Kolozsy (Montgomery Central)

    • Abigail Silberman (Cookeville)

    • Mollie Bowman (Siegel )

  • Darkhorse: Dakota Ward (Science Hill)

  • Bracketbuster: Brooklyn Whiteside (Clarksville)

  • Thoughts: Bowen is the returning 120 lb. State Champ and enters this weekend an impressive 40-1 with her only loss coming at the Beast of the East in Delaware in December. Bowen is ranked #1 by Pin-TN and pinned #2 Delilah Queen in the Red Hawk Rampage finals in in early January. Queen is a freshman hammer, but will need to beat some studs to get another shot at Bowen. Queen shares the same quarter as Jocelyn Kolozsy (#4 by Pin-TN) who lost to Bowen in the Regin 4 finals as well as Kemorai Turner of Cleveland (NR by Pin-TN). She also shares the bottom side with Region 3 Champ Mollie Bowman (NR by Pin-TN) and the only other State Placer in the bracket in Brooklyn Whiteside (#3 by Pin-TN) of Clarksville. Bowen shares the top side with Region 2 Champ Abigail Silberman and #6 (pin-TN) Dakota Ward who took 2nd to Queen in Region 1.

145 lbs.

  • Favorite: Trinity Roberts (Heritage)

  • Contenders:

    • Audrey Levendusky (Montgomery Central)

    • Sally Johnson (Northwest)

    • Adelyn Vanoy (Cleveland)

    • Finnley Craig (Summit)

  • Darkhorse: Hannah Howton (Maryville)

  • Bracketbuster: Elizabeth Hailman (Clarksville)

  • Thoughts: Two returning placers in the field in Trinity Roberts (#1 Pin-TN) and returning State Champ Audrey Levendusky (#2 Pin-TN). Roberts is unbeaten at 36-0 with wins over Levendusky, Johnson, and others. She does share the top side with Sally Johnson of Northwest (#3 Pin-TN) who beat Levendusky in the Region 4 finals and who Roberts only beat in overtime in mid-January. If they both get there - that will be a semi to watch. The bottom side features Region 3 Champ Finnley Craig who shares the quarter with the defending champ and Adelyn Vanoy of Cleveland (#5 Pin-TN) is the Region 2 Champ and sits in the bottom quarter with Hannah Howton of Maryville (#6 Pin-TN).

152 lbs.

  • Favorite: Sawyer Ward (Science Hill)

  • Contenders:

    • Janiya Johnson (Kirkwood High School)

    • Bella Harris (Cleveland)

    • Julia Jirka (Mt. Juliet)

    • Krickett Jones (Karns)

  • Darkhorse: Lily Avalos (Rossview)

  • Bracketbuster: Hannah Parrish (Maryville)

  • Thoughts: Very good weight with a ton of depth. Sawyer Ward (#1 Pin-TN) is the top returning placer (taking 3rd in 2023) and as a result is the top seed after claiming the Region 1 title over Krickett Jones of Karns (#4 Pin-TN). Bella Harris (#3 Pin-TN) of Cleveland was 4th at 145 a year ago and she is the 2 seed on the bottom side of the bracket. Harris shares the bottom quarter with Jones and the bottom side with Region 4 Champ Janiya Johnson (#2 Pin-TN) who is an impressive 42-1 on the season with her only loss coming to Ward 2-0 in late December. Julia Jirka of Mt Juliet (#6 Pin-TN) is the other Region Champ up top with Ward. Keep an eye on Rossview’s Lily Avalos as the darkhorse.

165 lbs.

  • Favorite: Piper Fowler (Cleveland)

  • Contenders:

    • Cearyona O`Connor (Montgomery Central)

    • Rebecca Deyo (Knox Catholic)

    • Jonna Paterson (Blackman)

    • Danika Mealer (Forrest)

  • Darkhorse: Madison Newbern (Riverdale)

  • Bracketbuster: Jade Lenhart (Coffee County)

  • Thoughts: Biggest favorite this weekend … returning 2x State Champion (and Freestyle World Champion) Piper Fowler of Cleveland. Fowler wrestles on another level and is expected to march to her third title in three attempts. That said - the bracket is deep with 3 returning State Placers in Madison Newbern (#3 Pin-TN), Cearyona O’Connor (#2 Pin-TN), and Jade Lenhart (#4 Pin-TN). Newbern finished 3rd in Region 3 behind Jonna Paterson and Danika Mealer and as a result she pulls Region 2 Runner-up Samarah Tifiti in the opening round with the winner getting O’Connor (not an easy path). Mealer sits in the 3rd quarter of the bracket with Region 1 Champ Rebecca Deyo making the bottom side the one to watch. Although the best opening match could be between Paterson and returning placer Lenhart up top.

185 lbs.

  • Favorite: Ella Murphey (Hardin Valley)

  • Contenders:

    • Ellysia Jennings (Coffee County High School)

    • Diamond Young (Cleveland)

    • Lakeria Kelly (Pearl Cohn)

    • Jehieli Valez-Almodovar (West Creek)

  • Darkhorse: Carter Grissom (Riverdale)

  • Bracketbuster: Kamari Mathews (East Ridge)

  • Thoughts: 4x State Champions don’t come along very often … and that is what Ella Murphey is looking to accomplish this weekend after owning this weight class for 3 years. Murphey (#1 by Pin-TN at 235) is unbeaten at 28-0 and all of those wins might have come by fall. She does share the top quarter with returning 2x State Runner-up Diamond Young of Cleveland (#1 by Pin-TN at 185). Young lost to Jennings in the Region 2 final and as a result could get Murphey in the quarters. That is easily the best quarterfinal in the women’s tournament. The other Region up top is Lakeria Kelly of Pearl Cohn who is just a freshman and looking to make her mark this weekend. The bottom side features another freshman in Ellysia Jennings who beat Young and comes in 27-2 on the season with her only losses coming to the same person … Carter Grissom of Riverdale (who happens to share the bottom side). Grissom (#3 Pin-TN) is a returning State Placer and was 2nd in Region 3 to Lakeria Kelly. Grissom could get Region 4 Champ Jehieli Valez-Almodovar in the quarters assuming they both get there.

235 lbs.

  • Favorite: Madelin Zunun (Cleveland)

  • Contenders:

    • Tyvenoria Munene (Northwest)

    • Shaniayha Wysinger (Clarksville)

    • Macy Greenlee (West Greene)

    • Ashleigh Williams (Stewarts Creek)

  • Darkhorse: Samantha O`Leary (Summit)

  • Bracketbuster: Morgan Ragsdale (Bartlett)

  • Thoughts: Clarksville’s Shaniayha Wysinger (#2 Pin-TN) is looking to cap off her prep career with a third consecutive state title, but for that to happen she will have to come from a Region runner-up spot after taking 2nd to Tyvenoria Munene of Northwest (#3 Pin-TN) last weekend. Madelin Zunun (#5 Pin-TN) is the returning 185 lb. State Runner-up and claims the top seed after downing Abril Dimas to claim the Region 2 title last weekend. Zunun shares the top side with Munene in what could be one to watch given that Munene has a win over her just a few weeks ago (of course both have to get to that point). The other Region Champs in the field are Ashleigh Williams of Stewarts Creek (NR Pin-TN) and Macy Greenlee of West Greene (NR Pin-TN) who will look to stop Wysinger’s run to another final on the bottom side of the bracket.

Jason Fulmore