Marysville High School junior Cali Leng stands in first place for the girls’ 19U category for 125 pounds. She won the club state girls wrestling title. (Submitted photo)
While the Ohio High School wrestling season isover, that didn’t stop young and experienced Monarchs from taking to the mat over the weekend at the OHWay Club State Tournament.
The boys’ and girls’ OHWay tournament was held at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marion.
The boys’ tourney went from Saturday till Sunday, with the ladies competing just Saturday.
In the girls’ OHWay State Tournament and OAC Junior High, Freshman and Girls State tournament, three Lady Monarchs graced the podium after competing in their respective weight classes.
“It is super exciting,” MHS girls Terri Waller said. “A lot of the girls are just waiting around for freestyle to start so they’re still keeping that mat time going.”
Wrestling in the junior high division at 98 pounds, Marysville’s Cameron Leng claimed third place for the OAC tournament. She defeated Ella Thomas with a 2-1 decision to earn third-place recognition.
That tournament was held at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown.
In the OHWay girls tournament, she also competed in the 12U 87 pounds and over category. Leng took first place after handing a loss to Headstrong Wrestling Club’s Meredith Greenslade in the finals.
In the girls’ 19U category for 125 pounds, Marysville’s Cali Leng also claimed championship honors by taking down Ottawa-Glandorf High School’s Caylee Verhoff with a pin at the 4:26 mark.
Representing the Lady Monarchs in the 115/120 pound weight class, Malia Burkhardt took third place after falling in the third and fourth round of the tournament.
She lost in the third round by a 6-3 decision and during the ensuing round by a pin.
Burkhardt wrestled back for third place and beat Lebanon’s Emily Cameron with a first-period pin.
“Luckily, the two girls will be seniors next year,” Waller said. “They have a lot of goals they want to crush.” Waller said.