High school wrestling: Elyria girls program on the rise

COLUMBUS — It was just a few years ago the Elyria girls wrestling program consisted of one wrestler — Riley Banyas. The Pioneers have filled out the roster, elevated their skills and sent two wrestlers to this year's state tournament. "My freshman year we started with seven girls," junior Jaelyn Green said. "We grew it a little bit last year and this year we had like 14. We've just been trying to recruit girls in the hallways and trying to make the team bigger and better." Green had a tough Day 1, getting pinned in both her matches — in 1:03 by Brecksville's Anna Madi in the first round, then in 1:54 by Alexander's Jocelyn Malone in her 125-pound consolation opener. "It was very stressful," Green said of her state debut. "I get very in my head about things like this. Let's just say I freak out a lot. But (Coach) Paul Felton likes to calm me down and then I'm usually able to just go out there and wrestle." The other state qualifier was Seraiah Jackson at 170. She was pinned in 1:25 by Loveland's Elizabeth Madison in the first round, then bounced back for a 7-5 victory over West Salem Northwestern's Kelsee Smith in her consolation opener. "I was very excited and very confident going into that (first) match and I lost, but that's OK," Jackson said between matches. "I'm so happy that I've got the opportunity to wrestle at states and I'm a little more comfortable now. I know what to expect." Jackson, also a junior, was a state alternate her first two seasons before finally breaking through to Columbus last week. She's thankful she was able to accomplish the feat with Green. "I've known Jaelyn since freshman year," she said. "I think she's been wrestling more than me — I only started three years ago — so to be able to go with her (to state) has been really good." Titan-ic resilience Lorain was able to send two girls to the state tournament this weekend and both suffered first-round losses. They both bounced back to win big in their consolation openers and advance to Day 2. "I feel like I was mentally strong," freshman Cali Otero said. "I think once I lost, it took me a minute. I talked to my family, my coaches and they all told me, 'You wrestled amazing (in the first match),' and I did what I needed to do out there (in the second match)." Otero was in a tight match with Poland Seminary's Ella Thomas when she was pinned in the third period of her preliminary. She then handed Centerville's Lucy Amrine an 11-0 major decision defeat in their 100 consolation opener. Senior Alaysia Coleman suffered an 11-4 loss to Nordonia's Cecilia Gilliam in the first round, then won an 11-3 major decision over Oak Hills' Lilliana Anderson in her 135 consolation opener. "I can't say (winning) was easy, but once I did it, it felt great," Coleman said. "It was tough (in the opener) because this was high stakes. I was going into my first big match. So now I have to have a beast mindset for (today's) match and try to keep winning." Staying alive Vermilion's Cora Frederick went 0-3 in her first three matches in Columbus — 0-2 as a sophomore and she lost a 9-1 major decision to Licking Valley's Adison Justice in her 130 first-round match Friday — but she was determined to have her hand raised on the state mats. She bounced back to pin Orange's Natalie Martincic in 1:48 of their consolation opener. "I just wanted to be better than last year," she said. "Obviously I want to place, but the win made me happy so now I have to just keep going. I've got a lot to make up for and I've got to catch up with some teammates — Emily (Stiner) got sixth last year and we had a state runner-up and state champion. So I need to get up there (on the podium) with them." ** Avon Lake senior Jack Valerino lost a 16-1 technical fall to Olentangy Liberty's Zade Archibald in his 138 first-round match, then won a 10-2 major decision over Fairmont's Tobias Deglow in their consolation opener. "I got a little anxious before (my first match) and I needed to regroup (after losing)," Valerino said. "I had to tell myself, 'I can beat this kid and that's what I'm good at. I need to wrestle my match instead of his.' Now I need to see if I can win again (today). I'm definitely capable of it, so it'll be fun trying to see what I can do." ** Clearview senior Collin Eckman didn't have the state tournament start he wanted. He was pinned by Wayne Trace's Corbin Kimmel, who is ranked No. 5 in the state, quickly in his Columbus debut. "I did a stupid move and got caught in 28 seconds," Eckman said. "It wasn't the best thing (I've done) in my life. So I just had to come back, refocus, lock in and we were good after I got those first-match jitters out of the way." Eckman dominated Sandy Valley's Owen Simpson in a 15-5 major decision to advance to today's action. He's a win away from becoming a state placer. "It's going to be pretty exciting once I reach that goal," he said. "At first I just wanted to be a state qualifier, but after achieving that I knew I had to go for something a little bit bigger. So I'm down here right now trying to accomplish that." ** Black River sophomore Kayden Hendershot put up a fight during a 14-7 loss to Bidwell River Valley's Budder Manley — ranked No. 6 — in his opening match, then bounced back for a 14-5 major decision victory over Allen East's Jacob Pinks, who is ranked No. 12. "After that first loss, I was just trying to get after it, just trying to do the best I can," Hendershot said. "I've got nothing to lose now — win or go home. So I need one more (win) to at least place and I want to try to place as high as I can." ** Columbia's Youstina Hanna was pinned with two seconds left in the second period by Lebanon's Chanelle Trammell, but bounced back for a 4-3 win over Gibsonburg's Josey Mendoza in her 140 consolation opener. Rough first day Columbia freshman Xavier Hendon had a tough D-III 150 first-round match — a 17-1 technical fall vs. Covington's Caleb Ryman, ranked No. 5 — but put up a good fight in his consolation opener before falling 11-7 to Akron Manchester's Phil Partin. Being eliminated on Day 1 wasn't the plan, but Hendon said he's still thankful for the experience of competing in Columbus. "It was wonderful, like not much more I could have asked for," he said. "I obviously wish I would have came out and dominated, but it is what it is. Now I just have to grind, work harder for next year and do better." ** Midview's Nathanial Shenberger was pinned in 2:37 against St. Edward's Aiden Peterson in his 215 first-round match, then lost a 13-4 major decision to Lakota East's Cohen Reip in his consolation opener. The senior said the losses didn't diminish the experience. "Yeah, it was pretty fun. It was everything I imagined, and even a little bit more," he said. "It's pretty sweet walking in here, seeing everything and just being around everyone. So it's an exciting arena, if that makes sense, like everyone is just happy and cheerful." Contact Shaun Bennett at (440) 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @ShaunBennettct on X.