The Kentucky Coaches Asscociation crowned Cooper High School’s Hannah Thompson the 152 lb. champion!

 

Congrats, Hannah!

Don't forget the Messerly girls from Ryle, who also won titles, and have been dominant at the middle school level competing against boys, and are amongst the best pound for pound wrestlers at that level. The number of girls in the sport has exploded this year, and will help wrestling remain viable as a sport going forward.

 

One note, this is NOT a KHSAA event. This tournament was sponsored and ran by the Kentucky Coaches Asscociation.

It's just that there were a total of 14 state champs crowned at the tournament, with representation from all over the state. Technically girls wrestling, isn't an official thing (and let's face it...many forget guys wrestling is a thing too), as these girls are all members of the boys teams. The KHSAA hasn't recognized girls as a separate entity. Numbers went from roughly a couple dozen last year, to well over 100 this year. And that number will likely go higher in years to come, because there are a ton of girls now wrestling at the youth level. Hopefully, with the number of girls competing going up all across the country, colleges will start to bring girls programs in, and bring back some of the men's programs that have been lost over the years. It's a huge shot in the arm for the sport, and kudo's for the Coaches Association for getting out ahead of the trend and hosting this tournament.

Congrats Hannah!

 

And @rjs4470 it is Addi and Liv Messerly, correct?

Congrats Hannah!

 

And @rjs4470 it is Addi and Liv Messerly, correct?

 

Yep. And they are both hammers. Liv was the favorite to win a middle school state title in her weight class. But the Middle School Tourney was held on the same day, and they opted to wrestle in the girls event. There are several other very competitive girls...Lauren Walton became the first girl to win a middle school state championship yesterday. Courtney Pittman from Anderson County has done well at national events, and won the girls title at 138. Ashley Courtney from Woodford County, has done well on the national scene as well, and was runner up to Olivia Messerly yesterday. Harrison County has quite a few girls on their team who have had some success as well.

I am very hopeful women's wrestling gains traction. Wrestling in Kentucky needs a shot in the arm. Little Hearsay is a two-time state qualifier at 220, and Bardstown had a girl finish 4th at 138 at the girls' state competition. C'mon, KHSAA, sanction this sport for girls!

I attended the girls state tournament. It was great to see the KYWCA make the effort to host the first girls state championship. Harrison County won it and brought 16 girls and had 20 total on their roster I believe. Ft. Campbell had around 11 and Louisville Central (12 total girls) ended up 2nd and 3rd.