It was a wrestling career of firsts for Hailey Kunz. The North Montgomery senior, now graduate, dominated the local girls wrestling scene and has been selected as the Journal Review’s Girls Wrestler of the Year.
Girls wrestling was sanctioned by the Indiana High School Athletic Association this past year, and it is steadily growing. Kunz was there to do more than her part.
As a freshman, Kunz thought she might try the sport because she believed it would be “kind of cool.” She was familiar with former Charger wrestlers Cailin and Catie Campbell, who won numerous state championships and are now All-American collegiate wrestlers, and Kunz wanted to be a part of the sport. Her parents, Chelsea and Tyson Kunz, encouraged her to try wrestling.
Success came quickly for Kunz. She qualified for the state finals as a freshman and made the trip to the finals every year thereafter.
“I remember qualifying for state my freshman year and I was like, ‘Wow, is this happening,’” she said.
Kunz continued to experience success in the sport. She finished fourth at the state finals her junior year and eighth in 2025.
Her early success was just a sign of things to come North Montgomery Wrestling Coach Lincoln Kyle said.
“I realized Hailey was going to be something special when she won semi-state as a sophomore,” Kyle said. “She had been wrestling well up to that point, but that victory proved she was starting to separate herself from the competition in her weight class.”
As more girls joined the team, the Chargers were able to be considered a full team and compete as such. Kunz was excited to be able to be a part of the first Charger girls wrestling team.
“We went from just a few girls my freshman year and we ended up having numbers in the teens my last year,” Kunz said. “It was good to see more girls come out and work hard.”
The North Montgomery wrestling coaches mentor both the boys and girls teams. They practice at the same times and the girls are treated no different than the boys.
“The coaches just taught us at the same time as the boys,” Kunz said. “The coaches worked with all of us every day and it was good. The coaches are very supportive of girls wrestling and they taught us a lot.”
Kyle said Kunz’s presence in the wrestling room benefited the whole team and was instrumental in her success.
“Hailey’s success comes down to her relentless work ethic,” Kyle said. “She pushes herself in both the wrestling room and the weight room, always striving to improve. Having someone like Hailey in the room is incredible. She puts in the work both on the mat and in the weight room, and she’s not just a great athlete, she’s a great person. It’s no surprise she achieved so much, given her dedication and character. Having her in the program is invaluable, as she sets an example for younger girls, showing them what’s possible in the North Montgomery Girls Wrestling.”
This season, North’s team won the first-ever Sagamore Athletic Conference Girls Wrestling Championship and the first-ever IHSAA Sectional. Kunz was named to the first team Sagamore Athletic Conference this year and was an all-state performer.
As the team continued to earn championships, it received more support from fellow students and staff, she added.
Kunz, an honor student, is the second oldest of six children. She plans to study art education at Brigham Young University–Provo this fall.
