Mozden sisters help Alliance repeat as champion at regional girls wrestling tournament

MENTOR — The OHSAA girls regional wrestling tournament Sunday showcased the growth of the sport in terms of quantity and qualify.

Walsh Jesuit, Perry and Canton South all claimed their first female state qualifiers.

However, any wrestling coach will say postseason experience counts for a lot, and that was proven at Mentor.

Alliance repeated as Region 3 champion with 135 points and four state qualifiers, well ahead of runner-up Avon Lake (81 points). Mogadore finished ninth with 69 points and sent three wrestlers to Columbus.

Alliance coach Dane Johnson said the win was bittersweet. The Aviators had three wrestlers finish in state alternate spots, including returning All-Ohioan Jayda Patrick.

"It's getting tougher and tougher every year," Johnson said. "I'm happy we're getting four out. The boys got four out [Saturday]. That's pretty cool. But, man, the level is jumping every year."

Alliance's highlight of the weekend was the Mozden family.

At 130 pounds, Abigail Mozden won the regional title, pinning Mogadore's Kai Gaetjens in 4:51 in the final. Not long after, 145-pounder Adilyn Mozden placed third by pinning Salem's Annika Murray in 2:13.

Combine the twins' wins with brother Aidan Mozden's district runner-up finish Saturday and all three siblings will wrestle in Columbus.

"We're so excited," Abigail said. "Our parents always talked about how we're a force to be reckoned with and we're a triple threat. Having both my sister and my brother there … you usually don't get your siblings to be interested in the sports that you are interested in."

"I'll say that was the goal last year in the summer," Johnson said. "It's pretty special to get all three of the siblings there."

Alliance 110-pounder Ashlynn Pennington lost an all-Stark County final 14-5 to Northwest's Madelyn Begert. Avery Horning also finish third at 115 pounds for the Aviators.

Meanwhile, after seeing her little sister lose, Mogadore 175-pounder Mia Gaetjens left nothing to chance. She claimed her second straight regional title by pinning Mentor's Maddie Menchaca in 3:03

"I got a nice little redemption win against [Lutheran West's] Paris [Willis]," Gaetjens said. "That was my goal for the day. I knew I was going to face her in the semis. I felt I was trying to pick up the pace in the match. I wanted to get some redemption for our team."

The Gaetjens sisters won't be the only Wildcats at state. With her brother and defending Mogadore state champion Tyler Shellenbarger at matside, Mackenzie "MJ" Shellenbarger placed fourth at 155 pounds to qualify.

"Kai and Mia go down last year, but MJ was hurt all of last year, so nobody new much about her," said Mogadore coach Duane Funk. "We knew about her from junior high and such. She did a really good job out here."

Returning girls wrestling state qualifiers score regional titles at Mentor

Manchester defending state champion Jaydyn McKinney did not waste time.

McKinney dominated the 135-pound bracket, scoring four pins in under a minute on her way to the title.

"When it comes to sectionals, regionals and state, we're not messing around anymore," McKinney said. "No more 10 points and pin. We're here to win, and if it happens fast, it happens. I feel ready. I've been in the gym doing well the last two weeks."

Minerva state qualifier Bridget Hilliard had an eventful day off the mat before she pinned North Olmsted's Kellie Kennedy to win the 105-pound title.

"I was ready for this tournament until this morning. I got in a car wreck on the way here," Hilliard said. "So that was a little bit of a setback. Once I wrestled my first match, I was able to get my head into it."

Minerva 120-pounder Sarah Sphon also advanced with a third-place finish.

Competing against Columbia's Cailyn Demagall at 165 pounds, Southeast state qualifier Lauren Carver won the tightest match in the finals. Carver came from behind, putting Demagall on her back in the last 30 seconds and scoring a takedown in sudden victory to win 13-11.

"She's strong and I didn't expect it, but I'm stronger and wanted it more," Carver said. "It was a little slippery. I definitely had her pinned a few times."

Carver made it clear her mission was to end the Pirates' 29-year state title drought.

Walsh Jesuit, Canton South and Perry send first girls wrestlers to state tournament

Canton South's Deanna Walters and Walsh Jesuit's Bella Ndinga Mbappé made history before they met in the 115-pound final.

Mbappé's pin of Sandy Valley's Lina Heredia and Walters' overtime win over Horning in the semifinals ensured they would be the first female wrestlers to represent their schools in Columbus.

"It feels amazing," Walters said. "I've been waiting my whole life to do it, and it just happened to happen this year."

"It means a lot. I'm so glad I can be a pioneer for them and for Walsh," Mbappé said. "I love that we have some of the guys go down there, too. Being a freshman as well, I'm beyond happy."

In the final, Mbappé scored the win in 1:50. She hopes to become Walsh's first state champion since 2017.

Perry's Emma Shephard continued a huge weekend for the Panthers by becoming the school's first female state qualifier.

"It feels great knowing I'm going to be the first girl from Perry to go to state," she said. "I'm just trying to go out and be the first state champion."

Shephard placed second at 125 pounds, pinned in the final by Chippewa's Gabi Gartin.

Perry will have two state qualifiers, as Mia Forberg was fourth at 105 pounds.

Cuyahoga Falls came close to earning its first state berth, but 115-pounder Reaghan Moore was denied by the slimmest of margins.

After Moore lost 3-2 in a consolation semifinal to Horning, she rebounded by pinning Sandy Valley's Heredia in 3:48 in the fifth-place match to secure state alternate status.

"I felt pretty good," Moore said. "I just beat the girl who took me out of the winner's bracket [Heredia]. State [alternate] is pretty good for a second-year wrestler, and I've got more on the road in front of me. I'm really hoping we can get the team to grow."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Three area schools send first wrestler to OHSAA girls state tournament