County wrestlers competing today at first girls regionals

The REPORTER

The first-ever IHSAA girls wrestling regionals take place today at four sites across the state.

Hamilton County wrestlers will compete at two sites. First is Alexandria, where Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel, Fishers and Noblesville student-athletes are among those trying for a place in the state finals, which take place next Friday, Jan. 17 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum.

The top four finishers at each weight class advance to the state finals.

The Royals have the most regional qualifiers with eight. Junior Fanta Sall, who won the 235-pound sectional championship last week at Alexandria, will wrestler Elwood freshman Autumn Grondin in a first-round match.

In the other weight classes, 105-pound sophomore Lilliana Rodriguez takes on Scecina freshman Irma Ramos in the first round. Senior Ella Shults is up next, going up against Perry Meridian senior Leeah Shelton.

Southeastern senior Kiarra Churchill takes on Carmel sophomore Geneva Sumner in an all-county match at 120 pounds. Daphne Gilliam will be HSE’s next wrestler, at 135 pounds, facing Southport senior Kyla Johnson. At 145 pounds, sophomore Samantha Broyles will take on Anderson junior Tannesha Samuels, and 190-pound junior Kelli Crawford wrestles Alexandria sophomore Suzanne Buck.

The Greyhounds have six regional qualifiers. Carmel had three sectional champions last week, beginning with 115-pound sophomore Grace Sharp. She wrestles another sophomore, Perry Meridian’s Valeria Velez in the first round. At 155 pounds, junior Daniela Zarate Ramirez takes on Cathedral sophomore Karissa Rousseve-Ross. Junior 170-pounder Josie Belloti will wrestler Southport senior Leah Soots.

After Sumner, the Greyhounds’ other qualifiers are 105-pound freshman Tess Self, who wrestles Blackford junior Madison Henderson. Junior Giabella Romano, at 130 pounds, takes on Cowan junior Candice Matson.

Fishers senior Jolisa Janik was the 235-pound sectional runner-up; she takes on Arsenal Tech sophomore Kamaria Sanders in the first round of regional. Noblesville senior Evangeline Howard, at 135 pounds, will face Franklin Central junior Madeline Thompson.

At Rochester

Up at Rochester, Hamilton Heights has seven wrestlers competing at that regional, while Sheridan qualified three wrestlers.

The Huskies had two champions at last week’s Western sectional. Kendall Moe, a 105-pound junior, takes on Riverton Parke freshman Kirklee Mullican in a first-round match. Senior Zoe Pugh, at 120 pounds, will wrestler Fountain Central sophomore Araya Brown in the first round.

The other Heights wrestlers begin with 100-pound freshman Madeline McKinney, who takes on New Haven’s Annalise Sanchez. At 115 pounds, senior Aubrey Baber takes on Fort Wayne Wayne senior Serina Bean. Junior Isabella Bailey will wrestler Northview sophomore Keilee Bays at 145 pounds.

Sophomore 170-pounder Amaelia Cordero Ballinger takes on New Haven senior Heaven Gardner in the first round. Natalie Head, a 190-pound freshman, will wrestler Northview senior Alex Brown.

The Blackhawks’ regional begins at 130 pounds, where junior Devyn Pewarski takes on Kokomo sophomore Ja’layia Williams in the first round. Junior Adrianna Hamersley, at 135 pounds, faces Wabash senior Rylin Marks and 145-pound junior Eva Todd takes on Western freshman Jade Chloe Johnson.