Six Chagrin Valley Conference wrestlers placed at the 2026 Vantage Lady Viking Invitational at Akron North on Sunday.
Kirtland’s Ahnai Welchans led the group by winning the 110-pound championship.
“I went into the season focused on my goals to stay healthy,” Welchans said. “I’m getting great support from my coaches and practice partners, and we are hoping that our adjustments for this year will result in a state placement.”
Welchans went 4-0 with four first-period pins.
She closed out her championship run by pinning Mentor’s Madalynn Beaumier in 1:00.
“I’m happy with my wrestling this weekend,” she said. “Next weekend at Orrville will be a fresh challenge. My coaches tell me that wrestling is a game of turns and it is up to me to try to take all of them in order to control the match.”
Orange’s Natalie Martincic finished as the runner-up at 140 pounds.
“Overall, I was satisfied with how I performed at the tournament but was disappointed with the final result,” Martincic said. “Early in the tournament, I was aggressive and took advantages of openings I saw while wrestling.”
Martincic nearly wound up in the consolation bracket.
She recorded a technical fall in her first bout and pinned her second opponent in 37 seconds, setting up a showdown with Lorain’s Nylasha Phillips in the semifinals.
Phillips dominated the first period, recording a takedown and two nearfalls to lead 10-0 after one. Another Phillips takedown pushed her lead to 13-0 early in the second period.
That’s when Martincic went to work.
“My opponent from Lorain was strong and aggressive and it took me the first period to adjust to her match,” Martincic said. “She caught me 13-0 in the first period but I spent the next two periods scoring 17 points and preventing her from scoring to win the match.”
Martincic recorded an escape with 52 seconds left in the second, and followed that up with a takedown and two-point near fall, cutting her deficit to 13-6.
In the third period, Martincic recorded a takdown with 58 seconds left in the match to pull to within 13-9. Two four-point near falls sealed her improbable win.
Columbia’s Youstina Hanna pinned Martincic in the championship bout.
“Youstina is a solid and accomplished wrestler,” Martincic said. “Every chance I get to wrestle her is an opportunity to see how my work in practice has been paying off. I look forward to wrestling her again.”
Harvey’s Giselle Moreno placed third at 235, and Madison’s Sophie Pinney (115), Chagrin Falls’ Savannah Brent (145), and Harvey’s Sophia Turner (190) each placed fifth.
