Cincinnati boasts 3 state girls wrestling champions; Harrison captures state team title

HILLIARD – Cincinnati was well-represented in the final girls Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association (OHSWCA) state wrestling tournament before the sport, along with boys volleyball, is recognized as an emerging OHSAA sport starting next season.

Cincinnati sent 34 female wrestlers and seven alternates to Hilliard Davidson High School over the weekend. When the dust settled after several clashes across 14 weight classes, Cincinnati still had six wrestlers advancing to a state championship match, and several more heading to the state-placing podium.

In the end, it was a banner day for Harrison, one of the first Greater Cincinnati schools to offer girls wrestling just a few years ago. Harrison had two state championships and won an overall team state title with 111 points, edging runner-up Marysville (96).

It was a surreal moment for the program, which started when assistant coach Chris Baird and head coach Chad Dennis were approached by Rob Dearwester, who had four girls eager to wrestle.

A four-person girls wrestling club grew through school hallway recruitment and excitement. That program now has a state team championship.

"The girls bought in. They are great kids, they are very coachable and their GPAs are awesome," Baird said. "I can honestly say that the girls on our team are better people than they are wrestlers. This makes everything worth it; it's unreal."

Harrison was highlighted by sophomore Chloe Dearwester. Last year, she became the first girls state championship from Cincinnati. The nationally-ranked sophomore is now the city's first two-time state champ after winning the 105-pound title with ease.

Dearwester opened Sunday's final portion of the tournament with a dominating 9-0 decision in the semifinals, then needed just 1:29 to pin Bellfontaine's Chelsea Horsley for the state crown.

Dearwester pinned Horsley in last season's state final in 1:21. Horsley, a Siena Heights University signee, was the state champion in 2020.

Rob, Chloe's father and a former All-American at Harrison, put the first-place medal around his daughter's neck.

"Rob doesn't get enough credit," Baird said. "This was his dream and all of us together made it happen. Our program is a great family."

Just two championship matches later, Harrison was in the spotlight again. This time, it was Raegan Briggs, who polished off a perfect season with a pin of Chippewa's Gabrielle Gartin in just 58 seconds for her first state title.

"It was an amazing feeling. I've worked hard all season and it finally paid off," Briggs said. "It's amazing. It's one of the best feelings in the world and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Harrison earned additional key points with Lilly Kinsel, who entered Sunday with a second-round pin of Western Brown's Lacie Reese in the semifinals.

Kinsel finished as the state runner-up after falling to defending state-champion Cassia Zammit from Miamisburg via a second-round pin.

"She's disappointed, of course, when you make the state finals, but I still think she did a great job," Baird said of Kinsel. "She hung in there, she scored some points. That girl (Zammit) is the real deal and those are tough matches."

Harrison finished off its first-place point total with contributions from Jessica Edwards, who finished seventh in the 235 class, and Molly Hudler, who finished fifth at 170.

Erin Martin goes from 5th to 1st

Walnut Hills senior Erin Martin is going out on top.

After finishing fifth at state last season, Martin captured a 155-pound state championship in dominating fashion Sunday afternoon.

"Last year I came in fifth and it was the worst feeling ever because I could've done better," Martin said. "Last year, I was so shocked that I did enough to go to state. This year, I told myself, 'I deserve to go to state. I work hard. I work out three times a day, I deserve to be here.' I think that was the switch I needed."

Martin pinned Bishop Watterson's Lilly Grayem in the third round of the semifinals, then left little doubt in the championship match. Facing Marysville's Aubrey Reese, Martin opened up a commanding 8-1 lead after two rounds. In the third, Martin finished the job with a pin.

"I was still in attack mode," Martin said. "The match is never over until it's over. You can't sit on a lead."

Runner-ups

In addition to Kinsel, the Cincinnati area had two more wrestlers reach the state title and finish as the runner-up.

Badin's Rachel Nusky was locked in a rematch with Sidney's Josie Davis in the 125-pound final after winning a 2-1 decision over Hamilton Township's Sienna Sanborn. In last year's state championship, Davis beat Nusky by a 9-2 decision. On Sunday, Davis scored a first-period pin to win her third-straight state title.

In the 145-pound final, Taylor sophomore Meghan Werbrich led 5-0 in the third period but fell by pinfall to Rossford's Joe Hussar. Werbrich was the state runner-up as a freshman last season at 137.

Werbrich advanced to the state final with a first-round pin of Chippewa's Isabella Adams in the semifinals.

Local state-placers

100 – N/A

105 – Chloe Dearwester, Harrison (1st)

110 – Rachel Elizondo, Fairfield (3rd)

115 – Raegan Briggs, Harrison (1st); Kendra Hiett, Lakota West (4th)

120 – N/A

125 – Rachel Nusky, Badin (2nd)

130 – Rylee Gust, Springboro (3rd); Morgan Cope, Lebanon (7th)

135 – Lilly Kinsel, Harrison (2nd); Lacie Reese, Western Brown (4th)

140 – Sophia Rohrs, Lebanon (5th)

145 – Meghan Werbrich, Taylor (2nd); Jesse Foebar, Clermont Northeastern (3rd); Lexi Fornshell, Lebanon (8th)

155 – Erin Martin, Walnut Hills (1st); Abi Miller, Western Brown (8th)

170 – Molly Hudler, Harrison (5th)

190 – Kiara Martin, Batavia (6th)

235 – Kate Fenton, Lakota West (4th), Jessica Edwards, Harrison (7th)

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati girls wrestlers capture 3 state championships, team title