“I was scared. I’m going to have to tell my dad I want to join the wrestling team,” Powell said Saturday afternoon, laughing at the memory. “I told him, ‘Dad, don’t be mad at me but I think I really want to wrestle.’ He was like, why would you think I’d be mad?”
Both were all smiles Saturday after Powell kicked off the championship round of the Ohio Heritage Conference meet by winning the first of the Indians’ six individual titles. The Indians also won their 13th straight OHC team championship and 15th in 16 seasons.
Powell won the 106-pound weight class with a pin against Triad freshman Jacob Haser in 28 seconds. Haser appeared to have Powell in a cradle and tried to roll Powell on her back. Powell rolled through it to put Haser on his back for the quick pin.
“Oh my goodness. I didn’t expect it to come so fast,” Powell said. “When the ref slapped the mat I looked at him like, ‘I’m not done. I’m still (wrestling).’ He said, no you just pinned him.”
Powell (16-6) pinned all three of her opponents in a combined 3:41.
“I wasn’t expecting to do super well as an individual, but I knew our team was going to place pretty high,” Powell said. “I was happy for them. I was hoping to get in a few good matches and learn something from it. I wasn’t expecting this at all.”
Powell started keeping stats for the Indians’ program in the eighth grade and continued through her sophomore year. She loved being around the sport, but something was missing.
“I just had this feeling that I was left out. I want to do that,” Powell said. “I want to be with the boys wrestling. I finally got the confidence and I’m going to do it. I finally did and no regrets. Well, my only regret is I didn’t start sooner.
“In a perfect world if I had a girls team at my school I’d be on it. But it’s not a perfect world and I have to deal with the cards I’ve been dealt. I’m just here to wrestle. I’m not here to prove anything.”
Mechanicsburg also received individual titles from junior Trey Allen (126), senior Luke Stroud (138), junior Westyn Moyer (145), junior Jake Hurst (152) and senior Caden Coleman (220).
Mechanicsburg scored 244.5 points to edge Greenon’s 233.5. Greeneview (165), West Jefferson (105) and Triad (90.5) rounded out the top five.
“I feel from 106 through heavyweight we have tough kids,” Mechanicsburg coach Cameron Doggett said. “They’re not afraid to throw down in a match and try to keep scoring. … It was a real team effort today.”
Greenon had three individual champions with junior Arlie Benson Jr. (132), junior Trevor Stewart (182) and junior Ashton Simison (195).
Greeneview sophomore Ashtan Hendricks (113) and Southeastern sophomore Connar Mitchell (120) also won titles.
Mechanicsburg placed eight wrestlers in the finals and went 6-2, while Greenon went 3-4. The Indians and Knights split their four finals matches.
“This is a group we’ve had since junior high, so we’re just a really tight group,” Mechanicsburg’s Luke Stroud said of the team chemistry. “It doesn’t matter, in practice we go after each other. Our practices are hard so we’re able to be that next level. … I love how close we are. We are a true family. Not just the kids but the coaches as well. ”
Catholic Central: The Irish were led by Aiden Thomas (160), who placed third.
Greeneview: Teagan Hendricks (138), Rylan Hurst (138) and Cohen Hickman (220) finished second for the Rams, while CJ Henry (195) was third and Adam Cline (120), Dallas Eavers (132), Robert Jones (152) and Caleb Allen (170) were fourth.
Greenon: The Knights received second-place finishes from Evan Fagan (126), Evan Davis (152), Cameron Cunningham (160) and Kameron Cox (170). Shane Small (113), Lucas Valley (138), Roman DeBolt (220) and Tyler Jenkins (285) finished third and Brent Captain (106) fourth.
Mechanicsburg: Also for the Indians, Jesse Stroud (132) and Adam Waller (195) finished second, Brayden Stover (120), Aaron Conley (170) and Kaleb Sumaceviz (182) placed third and Jake Thiel (285) fourth.
Southeastern: The Trojans also received a third-place finish from Duke McCombs (132).
Triad: In addition to Haser, Isiah Leasure (182) also placed second for the Cardinals. Coleman Hauck (152) finished third and Sam Stokes (138), Tucker Webb (160) and Thomas Ford (195) fourth.
West Liberty-Salem: The Tigers were led by Slayde Merriman’s second-place finish at 113.
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