Elyria High wrestler 2nd in first state tourney

Eyria’s Riley Banyas was hoping to make history. but the freshman settled for a runnerup finish.

Eyria’s Riley Banyas was hoping to make history and bring home a state championship from the first girls state wrestling tournament. But the freshman settled for a runner-up finish.

The freshman wrestled her way to the finals during the two-day event at Hilliard Davidson High School that concluded Feb. 23. In the 101-pound final, she lost to Hayley Snyder of Warren Local, 8-1.

“I’m generally upset about the loss. But the losses are what make you better,” Banyas told The Morning Journal. “They are what you learn from, and (Synder) was definitely a tough opponent, and that just goes to show never underestimate anyone.”

Banyas finished her season 15-8, mostly against boys competition while wrestling with the nationally ranked Pioneers boys team. Prior to the state tournament, Banyas had two matches against girls this season.

At Davidson High School, Banyas won her first two matches by pin.

She stuck Harvey’s Melany Herrera in her tournament opener in 49 seconds, then pinned Sofia Collins of Brooklyn in the next round.

On Feb. 23, she defeated Makayla Young of Bellefontaine in the semifinal round by a 10-5 score to set up her state final match against Snyder. It was all Snyder, however, as Banyas — who entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed at her weight class — settled for a second-place finish.

“I’m just gonna go back and work harder and harder until I get where I want to be,” said Banyas.

She grew up in Amherst and wrestled in the Comets’ middle school program and became an All-American at the Freestyle Women’s Nationals last summer. Banyas then enrolled at Elyria, where she put herself through tough day-to-day practices with the powerful Pioneers program with an eye on the girls state tournament.

“It’s my freshman year, so I have three more years of it and who knows how much it could grow in that time,” Banyas said in advance of the girls state tournament.

As for participating in the first-ever girls state wrestling tournament — which was run by the state’s wrestling coaches association — Banyas was proud to be involved.

“I appreciate (those) who made this weekend possible,” she said. “It’s a step in the right direction for girls wrestling.”

Banyas