The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Brush’s Dickson moved to tears after state victory
A year ago this time, the furthest thing from Le’Naysia Dickson’s mind was a wrestling mat.
When she went to bed on March 10, she did so as the first female in NewsHerald history to win a match in an OHSAAsanctioned state wrestling tournament.
Dickson pinned Marengo Highland’s Madalynn Morrison in the second period of a 235-pound consolation match on Day 1 of the state wrestling tournament. Of the seven area girls who qualified for the first sanctioned state wrestling tournament in state history, Dickson was the only one to make it to the second day.
She was so happy, she was brought to tears.
“I means everything,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t know where I’d be if I was not here right now. This is my happy place. This is for my family. This is everything to me.”
In her first year of wrestling, Dickson was pinned in 59 seconds in her tournament opener. But she pushed the pace from the get-go against Morrison, took a lead on a stall call and then put Morrison on her back for the pin as the Brush faithful cheered wildly from the seats near the mat.
“My best friend lost her match,” Dickson said referring to Lyneyya Anthory. “I did this for her, too.
“My coaches told me everything I needed to know.”
The first-ever girls state tournament brought fans to their feet when they entered the arena for the first time. Photographers hoisted cameras, videographers caught all the action and the girls put their best foot forward.
“Nerves, excitement,” said Mentor’s Lorelai Megery of the experience. “I tried not to think about it too much. I tried to focus on what was happening on the mat. I tried not to look at the stands because there were so many people.”
Megery lost by an 8-0 major decision to be eliminated, but she said of the experience, “It was exciting and invigorating. To be with all thee girls and compete with them is phenomenal.”
Beside Dickson advancing to the next day, the other two close calls were Mentor’s Campbell Splete, who lost her consolation match, 9-7, and Mentor teammate Maddie Menchaca, who lost her first match 8-6 and her second 6-4 in sudden victory.
Brush coach Richard Hall said the the experience was a great one for all involved. He said the large crowd and spacious Value City Arena was “a little intimidating” for his girls but said the sport is here to stay.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” he said. “Let’s keep growing it.”