DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
Despite many attempts by the IHSAA to throw around the word “inaugural” and “first”, this year’s Girls’ Wrestling State Finals were yet another step in the ascendancy of a sport that has exploded in recent years, both in sheer numbers of participants, but more so in the quality of wrestling and the character of each individual involved.
Mallory Winner passed the torch of the “old guard” of those who had to fight for legitimacy, winning her fourth state title to etch her name as one of the founding members of a club of legendary pioneers, to the “new guard” of those wrestlers who’ve never spent a moment in their career contemplating the word “legitimacy.”
The championship bouts were filled with stories of redemption and vindication, perseverance and teamwork.
After winning the title to cap off a great night for the state champion Olympians, Columbus East’s Monica McMahon, credited her twin sister, who finished third in a different weight class, with every element of her success on the road to her state title.
Kayla Roell, the 120 champion, told Greg Rakestraw in her post-match interview that she persevered through this season as the only female wrestler in her school by leaning on the boys’ team for support.
While the 2025 version of the Finals was, in some ways, a display of how far the girls have come, it was certainly also a display of how much farther it can go. Many of the girls who brought the spectators to their feet went through the season without a traditional training partner or a full-time coaching staff. Some even shared stories of unequal training facilities and practice hours compared to the boys.
The amount of growth that is sure to come over the next five years will likely dwarf the gains that have been made in the last five, but for those in attendance, it was a special day.
Freshman Ella Neibert of Indian Creek became the first IHSAA state champion in the sport with a 6-0 decision at 100 pounds.
Three superstars of the sport in Indiana followed by claiming titles in quick succession – all with first-minute falls.
Kendall Moe’s victory at 105 pounds was well-deserved not just for Moe, but for Gary Myers, who was honored by the IHSAA for his role in promoting the sport, and for Hamilton Heights High School, who served as the organizational beacon for girls’ wrestling in Indiana at the start.
Joy Cantu of Merrillville was one of three sisters competing Friday, winning the title at 110. Her victory came with David Maldonado in the chair, showing the crossover between the boys’ programs in Indiana and the girls’. Cantu’s conscious decision to choose the girls’ tournament over the boys’ tournament this season also lent legitimacy to the day.
At 115, Ysabelle Ocampo dominated, as usual, and the New Haven sophomore has a great shot at becoming another Indiana four-timer.
The contrast between Kayla Roell’s win for tiny Milan and Ava Strayer’s title for Crown Point at 120 and 125, respectively, was bound by a common theme – both girls credited their own boys’ teams for making them a better wrestler over the course of the season.
Garrett claimed two titles on Friday night – one at 130 with Naveah Wilson and the other at 155 Rhaigyn Trenary. Both victories showed the dedication of the Garrett coaching staff. The Railroaders captured an individual boys’ title last season for the first time in program history and they won this year’s 2A Team State Title. It also highlighted the competitiveness of the sport, with Trenary transferring from Eastside to Garrett this year and reaching the top of the podium.
Naima Ghaffar’s victory at 135 was a reminder of the special bond that has grown between many fathers and their daughters because of the sport. With her dad in the corner, Ghaffar reached the top of the podium and became the third wrestling state champion in school history.
The most important element added by the IHSAA was the beautiful venue – the Corteva Coliseum at the State Fairgrounds – and the atmosphere for the finals grew because of it. That tone reached fever pitch for the 140 championship bout. Maddie Marsh, who represented Pendleton Heights on the cover of the IHSAA program booklet, was pitted against Ava Allen of Silver Creek. Each had already won a state title and their bout was perhaps the most exciting in the final round, with Marsh taking a 10-7 decision.
While the IHSAA did give credit to the Myers, Hamilton Heights and the hard work done by many for years by including the list of the very first state champions from back in 2017, they shortchanged all those participating for a second (or third or fourth) time by not including past placements at previous State Finals on their brackets like they’ve done for more than 50 years on the boys’ side.
That omission was never so glaring as when Winner was interviewed after her emotional championship win at 170. The IHSAA network never once mentioned the previous three state titles earned by Winner.
Aleksandra Bastaic’s win at 145 came in dominating fashion, despite a 5-0 final score, and displayed everything that her accomplishment list in the finals introduction had mentioned. A two-time national folkstyle champ, Bastaic represents just one of the competitors with collegiate and olympic aspirations.
Perhaps the most surprising state champion was Racheal Adolphe of North Central. Wrestling just a few miles from her home, Adolphe pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament, pinning Aubrey Barktowiak of Attica in the semifinals at 235.
The IHSAA should be applauded for the professionalism of the event and the level of equality compared to the boys’ event that will take place in the same city next month. There is no doubt that the number of member schools with teams/participants in 2025-26 will only increase, creating problems, good ones at that, that will need addressed as the sport grows.
WZBD congratulates all of the wrestlers and all of the champions on an outstanding season and a great State Finals. For those that have missed our coverage in previous weeks, we catalog our list of interviews from the Muncie Central sectional, the Alexandria regional, the Rochester regional and the State Finals. 92.7 FM was the only media outlet covering any level of the tournament live at any site and it is with great pride that we celebrate the schools, coaches and athletes in this sport.
