Montague was a host site Sunday as the MHSAA staged its first-ever girls individual wrestling district tournament. In prior seasons the postseason began with regional meets.
All six area wrestlers to compete earned bids to regionals, including four finalists. Montague's Ava Pelton (145 pounds) and Taylor Moore (235) finished second, as did Whitehall's Miley Manzo (110) and Kassie Sapp (115).
Pelton rallied from a late deficit to force overtime against top seed Markie Davis of Grant in her finals match, but Davis took her down and scored the win in the extra period. Pelton scored a pin and a technical fall prior to that defeat. Moore, as the top seed of three wrestlers, received a bye to the finals and fell in that match.
Montague coach Kris Maddox said given the program's tradition of success in its short history, he was disappointed the Wildcats were unable to bring home any individual titles. Zaniya Meza, Montague's other entrant, finished in fourth at 105, earning two pins, and lost her third-place match in overtime.
"We need to make adjustments and take advantage
of those opportunities when they are presented to us," Maddox said of the overtime matches. "We need to do a better
job of taking care of those situations."
Whitehall's Miley Manzo (right) battles with Holton's Justice Hill in a finals match at Sunday's girls wrestling districts in Montague. Manzo finished second and advanced to regionals.
Manzo and Sapp each went 2-1 in their weight classes; Sapp had two pins and Manzo earned a pin and a major decision. Sapp's finals loss to top seed Gracey Barry was her first of the season.
Reeths-Puffer's Sidney Schackelford also wrestled at the meet and took third place at 155. Shackelford went 4-1 on the day, scoring three pins.
