Teays Valley freshman Madi Hamilton has qualified for the inaugural girls state wrestling tournament that is being sponsored by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The girls tournament will be wrestled alongside the boys from Friday through Sunday inside Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
Hamilton finished second last weekend in a regional tournament held at Olentangy Orange High School.
The freshman grappler won by pin over Westerville North’s Ava Heckman in 3:24 and in 57 seconds against Western’s Callie Farmer before losing by 13-2 major decision against Canal Winchester’s Razilee Wissen in the 140-pound championship match.
Hamilton (17-14) is slated to face Marysville sophomore Addi Lyon (29-12) on Friday in a first-round match.
Question: Talk to us about your style of wrestling and how that leads to your success on the mat?
Answer: I just go with my gut and with what I feel is best at that moment and try to hit the moves the best way I can.
Question: How did you feel about your finish at the regional tournament last Sunday and how do you want to build off or improve on that at the state tournament?
Answer: I feel like I did pretty well, but I’d like to clean up and improve on my overall performance, as well as work on adding more moves to my arsenal.
Question: Chat with us about your practice and training routine and how that leads to your success wrestling?
Answer: My training is about an hour-and-a-half long and it’s over a little bit of everything, including six-minute live goes, as our coaches walk around to help us hit our moves better.
Question: The state coaches association had previously administered the girls state tournament until the Ohio High School Athletic Association took over the event this school year. How does it feel to get to participate in the first OHSAA girls state wrestling tournament this weekend and competing at the Schottenstein Center? What do you feel this says about girls wrestling?
Answer: It feels great being a first-year wrestler and making it to the state tournament this year, especially since it is sanctioned by the OHSAA this season. This goes to show that girls are just as tough.
Question: What is your expectation for the state tournament this weekend and what will you need to do to turn that expectation into reality?
Answer: I expect to place at state. I’m going to take each match one at a time and leave everything I’ve got on the mat.
