The REPORTER
Two Hamilton County girls wrestlers are state champions after their performances at the Indiana High School Girls Wrestling state finals, which took place Friday at Kokomo’s Memorial Gymnasium.
Hamilton Heights’ Kendall Moe ripped her way through the 100-pound bracket, winning all four of her matches by fall. None of Moe’s four opponents were able to get past the second period when wrestling her. The sophomore began her state journey by pinning Tri-County’s Sydney Stoller in 1 minute, 28 seconds. Moe then took care of Mooresville’s Kaydie Epley with a fall at 1:54, or with six seconds left in the first period, in a quarterfinal match.
Moe’s next two opponents made it to the second period, but both matches still ended with pins. In the semifinals, Moe took care of Portage’s Madisyn Mickels in 2:44, then beat East Noble’s Kyleigh Honaker in 3:10 to secure the championship. Moe finished her season with a 27-3 record.
Noblesville’s Kyra Tomlinson claimed the state championship at 130 pounds, winning the Millers’ first-ever wrestling state title. The senior got pins in her first two victories, first beating East Noble’s Hadleigh Eling with a second-period fall (2:24). Tomlinson beat Attica’s Joslyn Barnett in the quarterfinals, getting the pin 13 seconds into the third period (4:13).
The toughest match came in the semifinals, where Tomlinson went up against unbeaten Ella Gahl from Northfield. Tomlinson used a third-period takedown to get a lead in the back-and-forth match, ultimately winning 5-4. In the championship, Tomlinson beat Huntington North’s Aubrey Troutner in a 19-10 major decision.
Tomlinson completed her season at 26-6. She is Noblesville’s first-ever four-time state place winner.
“She is a trailblazer for women’s wrestling,” said Noblesville coach Michael Weimer.
Sheridan’s Claudia Headlee competed at state in the 190-pound bracket, but lost her first-round match to Columbia City’s Michela Clifford in a first-round fall (1:39). Headlee finished her season 4-6.