Marysville’s Leng rallies to win state title at 120 pounds
Cali Leng spent long hours ruminating on last season's runner-up finish at 120 pounds at state.
“There was lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of reflection, probably even more than training, because last year showed me I wasn't as strong as I thought,” the Marysville senior said. “I needed to do some soul searching, and that's what got me here.”
“Here” was Leng's second state championship, and central Ohio's only title in the first Ohio High School Athletic Association girls state tournament. Leng never trailed in her 120 final against Clayton Northmont freshman Lacie Knick, but after Knick twice erased three-point deficits to tie Leng midway through the third period, Leng pulled off an escape to earn a crucial point with 32 seconds left and hang on for an 8-7 win Sunday night at Value City Arena.
A four-time state qualifier and 116 champion as a sophomore, Leng finished 38-1 and admitted she asked if she won when the third period ended.
“I didn't keep great position for the last 10 seconds. I was ready to go overtime if I had to,” she said. “I knew I just had to keep wrestling. I felt like she was more tired than I was. I just had to keep the best position as I could and stay calm.
“I hit a couple shots during this match, maybe four, but I only scored on front headlocks. It's all training. If you don't get a takedown or if you get taken down, get up and keep going.”
The other three central Ohio finalists, Delaware Hayes senior Molly Wells (115), Reynoldsburg freshman Savannah Holderby (155) and Desales senior Rebekah Oladokun (170), placed second.
On the strength of four fourth- or fifthplace finishers and five placers overall, Olentangy Orange finished second (69) as a team as Harrison (97) won its second consecutive championship.
Senior Alicia Coleman's fourth-place finish at 135 led Orange. Senior Talia Mitchell (190), junior Kascidy Garren (170) and sophomore Lydia Heinrich (155) placed fifth, and junior Sarraiya Mahmud was seventh at 145.
“The girls wrestled tough,” Orange coach Vanessa Oswalt said. “We qualified seven and placed five. They battled. Even leading up to regional and state, the girls were completely committed. Everyone pushed through.”
Wells (31-11) was pinned by Casstown Miami East senior Kira Cole in 2:30 in the 115 final but improved by four places from her previous state tournament two years ago.
“My coaches talked to me about the importance of peaking talent-wise and cardio-wise at the state tournament, and I definitely felt like that happened,” Wells said. “I managed to get a good draw and beat some girls I hadn't beaten before. I surprised myself, but I put in the work to get where I got this weekend.”
Holderby (28-2) got an escape early in the third period of the 155 final to take a 6-5 lead on Vincent Warren's Kylee Tait, but after an injury timeout with 1:18 left gave up a takedown and near fall to lose 10-6.
Holderby's only other loss was a forfeit against Tait in the regional final March 5 at Orange.
In the 170 final, Oladokun (31-4) was pinned by Loveland's Elizabeth Madison in 1:42. Oladokun finished as a four-time state qualifier, including a fourth-place finish at 137 as a sophomore, and Madison capped a 42-0 season. dpurpura@dispatch.com @dp_dispatch