UPDATED: Hillsboro, McClain combine for 3 girls wrestling state qualifiers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The McClain Lady Tigers and Hillsboro Lady Indians are sending a combined three wrestlers to the 2023 OHSAA State Wrestling Championships for their Top 4 finishes at the Regional Tournament this past weekend at Harrison.
The three wrestlers are McClain’s Nikkiah Smith (190), Hillsboro’s Mia Skinner (115) and Hillsboro’s Natasha Knight (155).
McClain’s Smith won via bye in round one, and that was followed with a win by pinfall in 15 seconds against Nevaeh Sherman of Chaminade Julienne. Then came another win by pinfall for Smith over Shayne Manning of New Richmond at the 3:01 mark of the match.
In the championship match, Smith finished runner-up as she was defeated by Kiara Martin of Batavia by pinfall at 1:11.
“I am so very proud of Nikkiah,” McClain girls wrestling coach Coty Barnhart told The Highland County Press. “She has shown a lot of grit to make it through our regional. Even as the Number 2 seed, it was a new weight, and she fell in the finals to a girl from Batavia who is ranked fifth in the state.”
Hillsboro’s Skinner (115) placed third at regionals, starting her tournament with a win by pinfall at the 1:28 mark of the match over Daisy King of Brookville. Next was a win by pinfall at 36 seconds over Kileigha Foster of Stivers.
Skinner next won by pinfall over Gabby Fenton of Taylor at 3:43. In her fourth match Skinner lost to Lext Grant of Oak Hills by pinfall at 1:44. Skinner bounced back with a 10-2 major decision win (10-2) against My’shawanna Tinsley of Finneytown. In her third-place match, Skinner won by a 9-4 decision against Alora Stauser of Alter.
In the 155-pound division, Hillsboro’s Knight won her opening round match against Sara Zink of Sycamore with a pinfall victory at 28 seconds. Next was a win by pinfall (1:20) over Shroder’s Jane Houston.
Knight lost her third match by pinfall (2:59) against Madison Jeffers of Tri-County North. When she returned to the mat, Knight gained another win, this time by pinfall (2:36) over Khadijah Bilal of Centerville.
Knight continued her tournament battle with a victory by pinfall against Emerson Von Dohre of West Carrollton at 34 seconds. Then came another win via pinfall for Knight as she defeated Lily Zimmerlin (Brookville) at 28 seconds. In her third-place match, Knight defeated Janee Hudson of Shroder by pinfall at 48 seconds.
McClain also had two other wrestlers compete at the Harrison Girls Regionals, those being K.C. Foster (235) and Dayza Daugherty (120).
Foster finished 1-2 with a win via bye, and her two losses were via pinfall.
Daugherty won her first match via pinfall at 3:26 against Julie Shultz of Lakota West at 3:26. Daugherty lost her next match to Olivia Olive of Harrison by pinfall (1:20).
Next, Daugherty rebounded with a win by pinfall at 1:31 against Isabella Wescher. Daugherty’s second loss was against P.J. Broadus of Lebanon by pinfall at 3:49.
“This year has been such a blast coaching these young ladies,” Barnhart said. “We are putting the finishing touches on what has been a stellar first year. My favorite thing about this immediate success is that we are setting the bar high for next year.”
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The three wrestlers are McClain’s Nikkiah Smith (190), Hillsboro’s Mia Skinner (115) and Hillsboro’s Natasha Knight (155).
McClain’s Smith won via bye in round one, and that was followed with a win by pinfall in 15 seconds against Nevaeh Sherman of Chaminade Julienne. Then came another win by pinfall for Smith over Shayne Manning of New Richmond at the 3:01 mark of the match.
In the championship match, Smith finished runner-up as she was defeated by Kiara Martin of Batavia by pinfall at 1:11.
“I am so very proud of Nikkiah,” McClain girls wrestling coach Coty Barnhart told The Highland County Press. “She has shown a lot of grit to make it through our regional. Even as the Number 2 seed, it was a new weight, and she fell in the finals to a girl from Batavia who is ranked fifth in the state.”
Hillsboro’s Skinner (115) placed third at regionals, starting her tournament with a win by pinfall at the 1:28 mark of the match over Daisy King of Brookville. Next was a win by pinfall at 36 seconds over Kileigha Foster of Stivers.
Skinner next won by pinfall over Gabby Fenton of Taylor at 3:43. In her fourth match Skinner lost to Lext Grant of Oak Hills by pinfall at 1:44. Skinner bounced back with a 10-2 major decision win (10-2) against My’shawanna Tinsley of Finneytown. In her third-place match, Skinner won by a 9-4 decision against Alora Stauser of Alter.
In the 155-pound division, Hillsboro’s Knight won her opening round match against Sara Zink of Sycamore with a pinfall victory at 28 seconds. Next was a win by pinfall (1:20) over Shroder’s Jane Houston.
Knight lost her third match by pinfall (2:59) against Madison Jeffers of Tri-County North. When she returned to the mat, Knight gained another win, this time by pinfall (2:36) over Khadijah Bilal of Centerville.
Knight continued her tournament battle with a victory by pinfall against Emerson Von Dohre of West Carrollton at 34 seconds. Then came another win via pinfall for Knight as she defeated Lily Zimmerlin (Brookville) at 28 seconds. In her third-place match, Knight defeated Janee Hudson of Shroder by pinfall at 48 seconds.
McClain also had two other wrestlers compete at the Harrison Girls Regionals, those being K.C. Foster (235) and Dayza Daugherty (120).
Foster finished 1-2 with a win via bye, and her two losses were via pinfall.
Daugherty won her first match via pinfall at 3:26 against Julie Shultz of Lakota West at 3:26. Daugherty lost her next match to Olivia Olive of Harrison by pinfall (1:20).
Next, Daugherty rebounded with a win by pinfall at 1:31 against Isabella Wescher. Daugherty’s second loss was against P.J. Broadus of Lebanon by pinfall at 3:49.
“This year has been such a blast coaching these young ladies,” Barnhart said. “We are putting the finishing touches on what has been a stellar first year. My favorite thing about this immediate success is that we are setting the bar high for next year.”
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