AHSAA.com
MONTGOMERY – Daphne High School emerged as team champion at the first statewide AHSAA girls’ only wrestling tournament held at Hoover High School Jan. 23.
The Trojans, coached by Joseph Jefcoat, scored 85 points to edge Thompson, which finished second with 82. W.S. Neal finished third with 54 points, followed by Northside Methodist Academy with 39, Auburn and Enterprise with 38 each.
Approximately 100 girls competed in the emerging sport for girls, which hopes to become officially sanctioned in the AHSAA soon if growth continues, with 23 schools scoring points in the tournament that featured 11 weight divisions. The competition, which showcased the growth in girls’ interest in wrestling across the state, had girls ranging from senior to seventh grade competing in the tourney.
Sydney Freeman felt it was a âfun experience,â while Megan Chandler called it âamazing.â
The three Northside Methodist female wrestlers all referred to the past Fridayâs first ever AHSAA official sanctioned wrestling meet for girls wrestling in the state of Alabama, the Murder Melee Womenâs Invitational at W.S. Neal.
The event, limited to four teams because of the COVID-19 protocols, featured the Knights, Thompson, Daphne and host W.S. Neal.
Northside Methodist had five girl wrestlers compete and had a strong performance, led by Whitehead, who won the 130-pound weight class competition, and Freeman and Chandler, who finished runner-up in the 120-pound and 165-pound divisions, respectively.