ROCKY RIVER—The second girls state wrestling tournament will include 15 athletes from the Chagrin Valley Conference.
Those girls punched their ticket to state by finishing among the top four at their respective weight classes at Saturday’s district tournament held at Lutheran West.
Last year, the Ohio Wrestling Coaches’ Association introduced the state championships for female wrestlers. This year, the girls had to earn their way to the tournament by qualifying at one of four district competitions.
Lutheran West finished second as a team with 116 points. Minerva won the district crown with 139. Harvey also finished among the top 10 as the Raiders placed tied for seventh with 42 points.
The Longhorns also advanced the most wrestlers to state with seven.
Leading the way was defending state champion Alyssa Pirro, who won the 137-pound weight class with a 3-0 record and two pins. Pirro won her state title at 143 pounds last winner. Alayna Lopez also won a district title as she was the lone wrestler in the 160-pound weight class.
Lutheran West’s other state qualifiers include Larissa Krantz (4th at 111), Catie Kerr (3rd at 116), Nevaeh Yarber (3rd at 126), and, Jaeyla Reyes (4th at 143). Alondra Melendez (6th at 106), Savannah Thorne (6th at 131), Brianna Marich (5th at 150), and Amy Zell (5th at 170) also placed for the Longhorns.
Harvey had two wrestlers qualify for state.
Melany Herrera (101) and Cristina Cortez (150) both finished as the runners-up in their respective weight classes.
Geneva and Lakeside both qualified one wrestler to state and they met in the 131-pound third-place match.
Lakeside’s Adrianna Hutson won that bout over Geneva’s Heidi Stamper. Hutson placed fourth at state last year in the 131-pound weight class.
Brooklyn’s Sofia Collins finished fifth at 160 pounds and will serve as a state alternate.
