LINDEN — In a season of firsts for Indiana girls wrestlers, add another to the list.
North Montgomery will participate Saturday in the first-ever Indiana High School Girls Wrestling Coach Association Team State Duals at Fishers High School.
The association invited every high school sectional champion to the state duals. North Montgomery earned its invite by winning the Crawfordsville sectional three weeks ago.
Charger wrestling coach Lincoln Kyle realizes winning a sectional and being able to wrestle in a state event is special. He credits the commitment all of the girls have made to the new sport.
“I am super proud of all the hard work the girls have put in,” Kyle said. “Qualifying for team state is a testament to the work they put in this season.”
Although the IHSAA girls wrestling season concluded last Friday at the state finals in Indianapolis, the state duals tournament gives select teams a chance to wrestle one more time.
“This is a great opportunity for our girls to get some high-level competition one more time this season,” Kyle said. “I have a couple of girls who are going to go and wrestle in college, so it is good for them to continue training. For our younger girls, they get an extra week of training, and they get more mat time which is very beneficial moving forward.”
Charger Hailey Kunz has had success in the state tournaments. The senior qualified all four years and finished on the podium three times. Last week, Kunz finished eighth in the state.
Kyle said her leadership and experience wrestling against the best in the state will help all members of his squad going into the state duals.
“Hailey is a great leader in the room and works extremely hard,” Kyle said. “She sets a good example for the rest of the room when it comes to training. I hope the younger girls look at her work ethic and try and mimic it.”
The Chargers will wrestle Mooresville in the first round. Other teams in their bracket include Lafayette Jefferson and Jay County. Wrestling will commence at 9:30 a.m.