Girls Wrestling on the Rise - Pursuit Wrestling
Girls Wrestling is the fastest growing sport in the country and we, at Pursuit Wrestling, are huge supporters of the girls and women in our sport. As shown in our instagram post last month, we would like to shine a light on some of our members and brag on some of their accomplishments.
We would first like to brag about coach Olivia Shore. Olivia is now enrolled at Otterbein University and wrestling for the Cardinals this year. Olivia made quick work at her first tournament back, not even needing a second period at the Tiffin Open this past weekend. We are very blessed to have her close year round and cannot wait to cheer her on at the home duals! Olivia is a former NCWWC National Champion and is still the only girl to place at the OHSAA Boy's State Championships. Olivia has made a huge impact on the girls in our club and is a vital part of our coaching staff.
One of our most dedicated female members is now attending and competing for Columbia University. Cecelia Reitter is now a freshman at the distinguished Ivy League university. Cece went 1-2 in her first collegiate competitions. In her second match, she showed off her dynamic offense with a 10-0 victory before losing a shoot out in her next match 8-13. This past season, Cece lost her very first match at the OHSAA State Championship then rattled off 4 straight wins, including a win over her first round opponent to move on to the third place bout. Cece finished fourth, but showed the grit and determination that we strive to replicate at Pursuit Wrestling Club. Her teammate and Pursuit member Nina Kim also had a great tournament and finished in third place as a junior. Cece was a multiple time state placer on the mat, but that doesn't even come close to describing her impact on her peers and even us as a coaching staff.
Next up, returning OHSAA State Finalist Mackenzie Carder from Olentangy Orange. Kenzie had a phenomenal freshman year, only dropping 2 matches the entire season en route to her second place finish. Not only did Kenzie have a great tournament, her team around her showed out that weekend picking up the Girl's Team Title. Kenzie also had an amazing offseason to back up her freshman campaign.
In April, Kenzie traveled to Spokane, Washington to compete at the U17 national championships. Let us remind you, she is only 15. Kenzie fought hard, going 5-2, against some of the best girls in the country picking up a 7th place finish. Kenzie would then dominate multiple divisions in various Freestyle/Greco national qualifiers in the months of May and June. In July, she competed at the prestigious 16U Fargo National tournament. She would go 6-2 with a 4th place finish. Kenzie has recently been ranked as high as 11th in the country at 120 pounds. Olentangy Orange looks to defend their team title with recent additions of returning State Champion Lacie Knick, state placer Bella Ndinga Mbappe and state qualifier Chloe Tompkins.
We also had plenty of success as a club in the Junior High and Grade School divisions. We walked away from this year's state tournaments with three, yes three, State Champions. Harper Wimmers dominated her Grade School bracket and was also impressive in the Grade School Boys division finishing 4th place. Clara Grigsby had an amazing postseason as well, bringing home gold in the Grade School girls division and a 4th place finish in the Grade School Boys division and Bronze in the Junior High Girls division. Lastly, Avery Ogles also won her grade school state title in a dominant fashion. Other state placers include State Runner-Up Delaney Tackett, third place finisher Malaya DiMasso and fourth place finishers Ellie Campbell and Skylar McCuen.
This past weekend, we had wrestlers competing at the Athena Nationals in Harrison, Ohio. Ellie Campbell came out on top with a close 7-4 decision in the final round. Aryanna Campbell, Ellie's older sister, came away with a silver medal, losing a tightly contested 6-3 decision. Clara Grigsby also earned a gold medal winning two close matches. Delaney Tackett competed in both the Middle School and High School divisions. Delaney had 10 matches overall. She finished second in the middle school division and just shy of a medal while wrestling up in the high school division.
One of our most dedicated female members is now attending and competing for Columbia University. Cecelia Reitter is now a freshman at the distinguished Ivy League university. Cece went 1-2 in her first collegiate competitions. In her second match, she showed off her dynamic offense with a 10-0 victory before losing a shoot out in her next match 8-13. This past season, Cece lost her very first match at the OHSAA State Championship then rattled off 4 straight wins, including a win over her first round opponent to move on to the third place bout. Cece finished fourth, but showed the grit and determination that we strive to replicate at Pursuit Wrestling Club. Her teammate and Pursuit member Nina Kim also had a great tournament and finished in third place as a junior. Cece was a multiple time state placer on the mat, but that doesn't even come close to describing her impact on her peers and even us as a coaching staff.
Next up, returning OHSAA State Finalist Mackenzie Carder from Olentangy Orange. Kenzie had a phenomenal freshman year, only dropping 2 matches the entire season en route to her second place finish. Not only did Kenzie have a great tournament, her team around her showed out that weekend picking up the Girl's Team Title. Kenzie also had an amazing offseason to back up her freshman campaign.
In April, Kenzie traveled to Spokane, Washington to compete at the U17 national championships. Let us remind you, she is only 15. Kenzie fought hard, going 5-2, against some of the best girls in the country picking up a 7th place finish. Kenzie would then dominate multiple divisions in various Freestyle/Greco national qualifiers in the months of May and June. In July, she competed at the prestigious 16U Fargo National tournament. She would go 6-2 with a 4th place finish. Kenzie has recently been ranked as high as 11th in the country at 120 pounds. Olentangy Orange looks to defend their team title with recent additions of returning State Champion Lacie Knick, state placer Bella Ndinga Mbappe and state qualifier Chloe Tompkins.
We also had plenty of success as a club in the Junior High and Grade School divisions. We walked away from this year's state tournaments with three, yes three, State Champions. Harper Wimmers dominated her Grade School bracket and was also impressive in the Grade School Boys division finishing 4th place. Clara Grigsby had an amazing postseason as well, bringing home gold in the Grade School girls division and a 4th place finish in the Grade School Boys division and Bronze in the Junior High Girls division. Lastly, Avery Ogles also won her grade school state title in a dominant fashion. Other state placers include State Runner-Up Delaney Tackett, third place finisher Malaya DiMasso and fourth place finishers Ellie Campbell and Skylar McCuen.
This past weekend, we had wrestlers competing at the Athena Nationals in Harrison, Ohio. Ellie Campbell came out on top with a close 7-4 decision in the final round. Aryanna Campbell, Ellie's older sister, came away with a silver medal, losing a tightly contested 6-3 decision. Clara Grigsby also earned a gold medal winning two close matches. Delaney Tackett competed in both the Middle School and High School divisions. Delaney had 10 matches overall. She finished second in the middle school division and just shy of a medal while wrestling up in the high school division.
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