MSWA FS/GR State Championships (Girls Edition!)

The Maryland State Wrestling Association’s Freestyle and Greco Roman state tournament was held on May 17th at Loyola-Blakefield. Champions were crowned across all age groups and genders. This installment will focus on the high school divisions for the Girls, 16U and 19U (we did list the placers for all the girls’ divisions below). Greco was completed in the morning with Freestyle following in the afternoon. Unless otherwise noted, the brackets were run in a round robin manner with no official finals match.

Two girls nationally ranked by USA Wrestling won titles, one in each age group. Bullis’ Kesi Tsarni and Laurel’s Alexandria Ford. Tsarni, who is ranked 9th in the country at 135 pounds, won the 16U 140-145-pound Freestyle crown, then added a 16U 170-pound Greco Roman gold in a best of three setup with Naima Simmone (Maryland Mana), 10-0 and 10-0.

In Freestyle, Tsarni beat two public-school state placers - Bel Air’s Grace Reilly, who was sixth at states at 135 pounds, 10-0, and third-place finisher in the public states, Fiona Ritchie (Lackey), 10-0. Ritchie beat Reilly, 11-2, at the MPSSAA states, here Reilly came out on top of Ritchie, 10-8, to claim a silver medal.

Ford did not step into the Greco Arena, restricting her activity to Freestyle where she dominated a state champion and state runner-up. Ford is ranked No. 1 in Maryland at 145 pounds and number 18 in the nation. Ford pinned one of Legacy Wrestling’s Girls Middleweight Wrestlers of the Year, state champion Sonia Pegoue of Walter Johnson (No. 1 at 145), 3:41, and teched Quince Orchard’s MPSSAA silver medalist, Aubry Spadoni (No. 4 at 135). Pegoue pinned Spadoni at 2:40, to claim the second-place position.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s state bronze medalist, Jennifer Djobo (No. 3 at 130) struck double gold at the MSWA affair and claimed Outstanding Wrestler Honors amongst the 19U participants. The 140-pound Freestyle title came with a 20 second decking of Patapsco’s Gianna Guarnera (No. 12 at 135) and a win by default versus Sophia Hodges, a state champion from Northeast of Anne Arundel County. Djobo stuck Ashley Wanjiru (Headhunters) twice in a row for the Greco 130-140-pound gold, :14 and :31.

The 16U Outstanding Wrestler, Kelani Ramos (Walt Whitman), was the third and final Greco champion, taking her top spot with two consecutive pins over Northwood’s Ashley Diaz (No. 15 at 120), :32 and 1:16. Ramos took out state runner-up Catherine Orndorff (Brunswick, No. 3 at 105), 16-3, and Stephen Decatur’s Calleigh McBride (No. 11 at 105), 10-0, to win the 100-110-pound Freestyle crown. Orndorff teched McBride, 10-0, to take second.

Diaz landed in second in Freestyle at 115 pounds, getting decked by Grayson Richburg in 14 seconds. Richburg also stuck Stephen Decatur’s Makaiya Robinette in 33 seconds. Another wrestler still in the junior ranks claimed the 120-125-pound 16U gold, Sofie French (Outsiders). French teched Walkersville’s MPSSAA bronze medalist, Alexis Ncholas (No. 3 at 120), 10-0, and put up another tech, 11-0, of Atholton’s Kailey Arredondo (No. 8 at 155). Nicholas teched Arredondo in their meeting, 12-2.

The remaining wrestlers to follow were all part of the 19U Freestyle combatants.

The biggest matchup we’ve yet to discuss came at 170 pounds with Stephen Decatur’s No. 1 Chaniah Bernier taking on No. 2 Morgan Linton (Eastern Tech). Bernier had the upper hand in their earlier encounters including a win in the MPSSAA state finals. Linton turned the tables on Bernier the last two times they met at the MAWA South Region in Folkstyle and the Maryland National Team Trials in Freestyle, pinning Bernier both times. Bernier reasserted her prowess here by decking Linton with mere seconds on the clock, 5:58.

A top five matchup played out at 155 pounds as Quince Orchard’s Amirah Abegesah (No. 3 at 155) squared off against Manchester Valley’s Addison Grubb (No. 5 at 145). Abegesah (3rd MPSSAA) won two straight by tech over Grubb (5th MPSSAA), 10-0 and 12-2.

Another ranked showdown occurred at 235 pounds when No. 6 Asia Brown of Gwynn Park, who placed sixth at public states, stared down No. 11 Katrina Adhikari (Severn Run), and pinned her twice, 2:00 and 2:08. The last contested title came at 130 pounds with Eastern Tech’s Alize Franze pinning Wanjiru in both bouts, 1:19 and 3:32.

Eastern Tech’s state silver medalist, Ariana Carnahan (115), and Gwynn Park’s Jada Agurs (3rd MPSSAA, 110) did not face a single foe as they received byes to the top spot.

FREESTYLE

Girls 16U - 100_110

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Kelani Ramos of Maryland

2nd Place - Catherine Orndorff of Warhawks Wrestling

3rd Place - Calleigh McBride of Maryland Mana

Round 1

Kelani Ramos (Maryland) won by decision over Catherine Orndorff (Warhawks Wrestling) (Dec 6-3)

Round 2

Kelani Ramos (Maryland) won by tech fall over Calleigh McBride (Maryland Mana) (TF 10-0)

Round 3

Catherine Orndorff (Warhawks Wrestling) won by tech fall over Calleigh McBride (Maryland Mana) (TF 10-0)

Girls 16U - 115

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Grayson Richburg of Unattached

2nd Place - Ashley Diaz of The Compound

3rd Place - Makaiya Robinette of Seahawks Wrestling Club

4th Place - May Brownstein of West Nottingham Academy

Round 1

Grayson Richburg (Unattached) won by tech fall over May Brownstein (West Nottingham Academy) (TF 17-7)

Ashley Diaz (The Compound) won by fall over Makaiya Robinette (Seahawks Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:45)

Round 2

Makaiya Robinette (Seahawks Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over May Brownstein (West Nottingham Academy) (TF 10-0)

Grayson Richburg (Unattached) won by fall over Ashley Diaz (The Compound) (Fall 0:14)

Round 3

Ashley Diaz (The Compound) won by tech fall over May Brownstein (West Nottingham Academy) (TF 10-0)

Grayson Richburg (Unattached) won by fall over Makaiya Robinette (Seahawks Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:33)

Girls 16U - 120_125

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Sofie French of Outsiders

2nd Place - Alexis Nicholas of Maryland Mana

3rd Place - Kailey Arredondo of Headhunters

4th Place - Sophie Amini of Capital Wrestling Club

Round 1

Sofie French (Outsiders) won by tech fall over Alexis Nicholas (Maryland Mana) (TF 10-0)

Kailey Arredondo (Headhunters) won by tech fall over Sophie Amini (Capital Wrestling Club) (TF 11-0)

Round 2

Alexis Nicholas (Maryland Mana) won by tech fall over Kailey Arredondo (Headhunters) (TF 12-2)

Sofie French (Outsiders) won by fall over Sophie Amini (Capital Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:29)

Round 3

Alexis Nicholas (Maryland Mana) won by tech fall over Sophie Amini (Capital Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)

Sofie French (Outsiders) won by tech fall over Kailey Arredondo (Headhunters) (TF 11-0)

Girls 16U - 140_145

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Kesi Tsarni of Capital Wrestling Club

2nd Place - Grace Reilly of Maryland Mana

3rd Place - Fiona Ritchie of Southern Maryland Wrestling Cl

4th Place - Denna Momeni of Gaithersburg

Round 1

Kesi Tsarni (Capital Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Grace Reilly (Maryland Mana) (TF 10-0)

Fiona Ritchie (Southern Maryland Wrestling Cl) won by fall over Denna Momeni (Gaithersburg) (Fall 2:48)

Round 2

Kesi Tsarni (Capital Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Denna Momeni (Gaithersburg) (TF 11-0)

Grace Reilly (Maryland Mana) won by decision over Fiona Ritchie (Southern Maryland Wrestling Cl) (Dec 10-8)

Round 3

Kesi Tsarni (Capital Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Fiona Ritchie (Southern Maryland Wrestling Cl) (TF 10-0)

Grace Reilly (Maryland Mana) won by fall over Denna Momeni (Gaithersburg) (Fall 3:50)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 110

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Jada Agurs of Southern Maryland Wrestling Cl

Round 1

Jada Agurs (Southern Maryland Wrestling Cl) received a bye () (Bye)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 115

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Ariana Carnahan of Outsiders

Round 1

Ariana Carnahan (Outsiders) received a bye () (Bye)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 130

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Alize Franze of Outsiders

2nd Place - Ashley Wanjiru of Headhunters

Round 1

Alize Franze (Outsiders) won by fall over Ashley Wanjiru (Headhunters) (Fall 1:19)

Round 2

Alize Franze (Outsiders) won by fall over Ashley Wanjiru (Headhunters) (Fall 3:32)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 140

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Jennifer Djobo of Team Takedown

2nd Place - Gianna Guarnera of Maryland Mana

3rd Place - Sophia Hodges of Maryland Mana

Round 1

Jennifer Djobo (Team Takedown) won by fall over Gianna Guarnera (Maryland Mana) (Fall 0:20)

Round 2

Jennifer Djobo (Team Takedown) won by injury default over Sophia Hodges (Maryland Mana) (Inj. 0:13)

Round 3

Gianna Guarnera (Maryland Mana) won by injury default over Sophia Hodges (Maryland Mana) (Inj. 0:00)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 145

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Alexandra Ford of Headhunters

2nd Place - Sonia Pegoue of Wrestling to Beat the Streets

3rd Place - Aubry Spadoni of Quince Orchard

Round 1

Alexandra Ford (Headhunters) won by fall over Sonia Pegoue (Wrestling to Beat the Streets) (Fall 3:41)

Round 2

Sonia Pegoue (Wrestling to Beat the Streets) won by fall over Aubry Spadoni (Quince Orchard) (Fall 2:40)

Round 3

Alexandra Ford (Headhunters) won by tech fall over Aubry Spadoni (Quince Orchard) (TF 10-0)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 155

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Amirah Abegesah of Maryland Mana

2nd Place - Addison Grubb of Unattached

Round 1

Amirah Abegesah (Maryland Mana) won by tech fall over Addison Grubb (Unattached) (TF 10-0)

Round 2

Amirah Abegesah (Maryland Mana) won by tech fall over Addison Grubb (Unattached) (TF 12-2)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 170

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Chaniah Bernier of Maryland Mana

2nd Place - Morgan Linton of Eastern Tech

3rd Place - Naima Simmone of Maryland Mana

4th Place - Emma Higgs of Richard Montgomery

Round 1

Chaniah Bernier (Maryland Mana) won by fall over Morgan Linton (Eastern Tech) (Fall 5:58)

Naima Simmone (Maryland Mana) won by fall over Emma Higgs (Richard Montgomery) (Fall 0:29)

Round 2

Chaniah Bernier (Maryland Mana) won by tech fall over Naima Simmone (Maryland Mana) (TF 12-2)

Morgan Linton (Eastern Tech) won by fall over Emma Higgs (Richard Montgomery) (Fall 1:08)

Round 3

Chaniah Bernier (Maryland Mana) won by fall over Emma Higgs (Richard Montgomery) (Fall 0:43)

Morgan Linton (Eastern Tech) won by tech fall over Naima Simmone (Maryland Mana) (TF 10-0)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 235

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Asia Brown of Bowie

2nd Place - Katrina Adhikari of Get Fit Sports Performance and

Round 1

Asia Brown (Bowie) won by fall over Katrina Adhikari (Get Fit Sports Performance and) (Fall 2:00)

Round 2

Asia Brown (Bowie) won by fall over Katrina Adhikari (Get Fit Sports Performance and) (Fall 2:08)

Girls 8U - 46

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Nayara Roubieu of Richmond Wrestling Club

Round 1

Nayara Roubieu (Richmond Wrestling Club) received a bye () (Bye)

Girls 10U - 67

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Eva Diaz of The Compound

2nd Place - Paisley Grinder of SMWC Wolfpack

Round 1

Eva Diaz (The Compound) won by fall over Paisley Grinder (SMWC Wolfpack) (Fall 1:32)

Round 2

Eva Diaz (The Compound) won by fall over Paisley Grinder (SMWC Wolfpack) (Fall 2:27)

Girls 12U - 87_94

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Esme Stewart of SMWC Wolfpack

2nd Place - Gabrielle Brady of Rampage Wrestling

3rd Place - Yaitza Selvas of The Compound

Round 1

Gabrielle Brady (Rampage Wrestling) won by fall over Yaitza Selvas (The Compound) (Fall 1:26)

Round 2

Esme Stewart (SMWC Wolfpack) won by injury default over Yaitza Selvas (The Compound) (Inj. 0:31)

Round 3

Esme Stewart (SMWC Wolfpack) won by fall over Gabrielle Brady (Rampage Wrestling) (Fall 1:03)

Girls 14U - 110

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Elana Pelaez of Clarksburg Coyotes

2nd Place - Gabriella Gauthier of Unattached

3rd Place - Elizabeth Beatriz Oliva Benítez of The Compound

Round 1

Elana Pelaez (Clarksburg Coyotes) won by tech fall over Gabriella Gauthier (Unattached) (TF 10-0)

Round 2

Gabriella Gauthier (Unattached) won by tech fall over Elizabeth Beatriz Oliva Benítez (The Compound) (TF 13-2)

Round 3

Elana Pelaez (Clarksburg Coyotes) won by fall over Elizabeth Beatriz Oliva Benítez (The Compound) (Fall 0:30)

Girls 14U - 150_165

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Ty`liyah Lofland of Milford Mill Wrestling

2nd Place - Yael Wexler of Capital Wrestling Club

3rd Place - Chloe Snavely of Annapolis

4th Place - Anna Nelson of Unattached

Round 1

Chloe Snavely (Annapolis) won by fall over Anna Nelson (Unattached) (Fall 1:31)

Ty`liyah Lofland (Milford Mill Wrestling) won by fall over Yael Wexler (Capital Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:45)

Round 2

Ty`liyah Lofland (Milford Mill Wrestling) won by fall over Chloe Snavely (Annapolis) (Fall 0:10)

Yael Wexler (Capital Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Anna Nelson (Unattached) (TF 10-0)

Round 3

Yael Wexler (Capital Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Chloe Snavely (Annapolis) (TF 10-0)

Ty`liyah Lofland (Milford Mill Wrestling) won by fall over Anna Nelson (Unattached) (Fall 0:07)

GRECO ROMAN

Girls 16U - 105_115

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Kelani Ramos of Maryland

2nd Place - Ashley Diaz of The Compound

Round 1

Kelani Ramos (Maryland) won by fall over Ashley Diaz (The Compound) (Fall 0:32)

Round 2

Kelani Ramos (Maryland) won by fall over Ashley Diaz (The Compound) (Fall 1:16)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 130_140

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Jennifer Djobo of Team Takedown

2nd Place - Ashley Wanjiru of Headhunters

Round 1

Jennifer Djobo (Team Takedown) won by fall over Ashley Wanjiru (Headhunters) (Fall 0:14)

Round 2

Jennifer Djobo (Team Takedown) won by fall over Ashley Wanjiru (Headhunters) (Fall 0:31)

Girls 19u (High School Only) - 170

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Kesi Tsarni of Capital Wrestling Club

2nd Place - Naima Simmone of Maryland Mana

Round 1

Kesi Tsarni (Capital Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Naima Simmone (Maryland Mana) (TF 10-0)

Round 2

Kesi Tsarni (Capital Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Naima Simmone (Maryland Mana) (TF 10-0)

Girls 10U - 67

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Eva Diaz of The Compound

Round 1

Eva Diaz (The Compound) received a bye () (Bye)

Girls 12U - 94_102

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Yaitza Selvas of The Compound

2nd Place - Elizabeth Beatriz Oliva Benítez of The Compound

Round 1

Yaitza Selvas (The Compound) won by fall over Elizabeth Beatriz Oliva Benítez (The Compound) (Fall 1:19)

Round 2

Elizabeth Beatriz Oliva Benítez (The Compound) won by tech fall over Yaitza Selvas (The Compound) (TF 10-0)

Round 3

Yaitza Selvas (The Compound) won by fall over Elizabeth Beatriz Oliva Benítez (The Compound) (Fall 2:39)