Randallstown senior Ugochi Anunobi won their third straight state title in last month’s all-girls’ state tournament at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, dominating her 170-pound competition to earn Legacy Wrestling’s Female Upper Weight Wrestler Of The Year honors.
Anunobi won her title, 4-2, over Stephen Decatur junior Chaniah, having reached the finals after an 11-1 major decision and pins in 72 seconds and 2:43. Anunobi became the Rams' first three-time state champion under coach Earnest Davison, a Tulsa, Oklahoma native who wrestled at Morgan State from 1992-’97.
Anunobi had pinned her way go her third straight Class 2A-1A North Regional title, using falls in 20 seconds, 1:43 and 2:58.
“I’m done and ready to engage in freestyle competition,” said Anunobi, whose record was 26-8 on the season. “I’m sad that I won’t be seeing my teammates and the girls I started with anymore, but I’m happy to be done.”
As a sophomore, Anunobi earned her initial state title at the all-girls’ state championships at 155 pounds despite having to overcome an injury to her left shoulder during her 13-9 championship victory over Elizabeth Heglar of McDonough.
Anunobi ended her junior season with her second state championship following a 7-4 decision over previously unbeaten Azariyah Johnson of Stephen Decatur, this, after reaching the finals on pins in 27 and 32 seconds before winning her semifinal bout by a 16-1 technical fall.
Johnson improved on last year’s runner-up finish to Anunobi by winning her state title bout, 6-4, in overtime to dethrone Watkins Mill junior Jabea Ewane as 190-pound champion. Johnson reached the finals on pins in 4:21 and 3:02 along with a 7-2 semifinal decision victory.
Anunobi follows the Rams' first repeat state champion, Jaylen Hyman, winner of titles as a sophomore and junior in 2019 and 2020 before attending Life University in Marietta, Georgia.
A former sprinter in indoor track, Anunobi gave up indoor track for the mats.
“I ran track and field up until my sophomore year of high school, doing the 100 and the 200 and the shot put and discus. I was good at all but the 200, where I don’t think I was that great at. I wanted to go out for wrestling as a freshman, but since Covid-19 was still around, I couldn’t,” Anunobi said. “I really wanted to start wrestling because my two older brothers and I used to watch WWE and we would practice and the moves on one another. I was so excited to wrestle when I got to high school, but then I realized it was nothing like WWE. I stuck with it though because I liked my coaches, my teammates, and it turns out I’m pretty good at it.”
In February, Anunobi returned from a trip to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. She will also attend Life University.
“I will be majoring in exercise science,” said Anunobi, an A student with designs on being a physical therapist. “My parents will always back me and support me.”
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