Getting warmed up for a run at a sixth straight TSSAA Girls Wrestling state crown, nationally third-ranked Cleveland had seven champions in nine qualifiers for the State Traditionals after hosting Friday's Section 2 playoffs, at Raider Arena.
A total of 20 local wrestlers will head to Franklin this weekend as the Lady Raiders will look for their third straight Traditional title, to go with a trio of State Duals titles in their four-year program history.
Bradley Central will send a half dozen, including three Sectional champs, to the Williamson County Ag Expo Center, while a Walker Valley trio and Polk County duo will also head to Middle Tennessee in search of medals.
Dominating the competition for Sectional titles were Cleveland's sophomore Saniya Hammonds (107), juniors Senna Grassman (114) and Audreyona Perkins (126), nationally-sixth ranked freshman Carolline Helton (132), plus seniors Kemoria Turner (145), World Champion Piper Fowler (165) and Madelin Zunun (235).
Bearettes senior Mylee Goodwin (100), Nataleigh Shane (120) and Victoria Huffman (138) also powered their way to top titles Saturday.
Lady Mustangs freshman Lily Shipley (107) and senior Jennell Phares (152), plus Lady Wildcat Elah Brown each earned runner-up medals.
Advancing as third place qualifiers are Walker Valley junior Hannah Creller (138) and Bradley 11th-grader Kalea Hardy (152).
Cleveland seniors Anna Melton (100) and JayLee Garcia (185), plus Bearette senior Calli Ellis (107) and freshman La`Ngiana Sheehee (132) each earned the Franklin trip with fourth place finishes.
Leading the local parade to the championship mat Saturday was second-ranked Goodwin, the first Bearette collegiate signee, who needed just 44 seconds to put her 100-pound opponent's shoulders to the mat.
A Bradley County matchup followed at 107, with No. 2-ranked sophomore Hammonds getting a 96-tick "stick" over Shipley.
Defending state runner-up and top-ranked Grassman got the referee to slap the mat at the 3:29 mark for the 114-pound crown.
Defending state champion Shane was push by third-ranked Jada Evans, from York Institute, in a 4-0 decision in the 120 final.
Perkins and Helton gave the Lady Raiders two more pin wins in 2:38 and 51 seconds, over Brown, respectively in their title tilts.
After an 18-0 technical fall in the semifinals, Huffman received a forfeit in the championship round.
Second-ranked Turner was able to "stick" fifth-ranked Stella Wilson, of St. Andrews-Sewanee, at the 3:46 mark of the 145 final.
After posting a pair of pins in a combined 67 ticks to continue her unbeaten career high school record, Fowler was given a "walkover" by sixth-ranked Samarah Tafiti, of East Ridge, in the championship round.
Defending state champion Zunun, who was also a state runner-up in 2023, took a 14-4 major decision for the final local Sectional title.
Walker Valley's Phares pushed Warren County's Marley Harris to the third period before falling in the 152-pound title tilt.
In the consolation round, Creller earned a 23-8 technical fall at the five-minute mark at 138, while Hardy earned a pin 3:23 into the 152 match, for their third-place finishes.
The State Traditionals will open Friday morning and continue to the championships set for 6:30 Saturday evening to wrap up the 2024-25 mat season.
MATCH SUMMARIES
TSSAA Section 2
Girls Championships
Friday, Feb. 14
at Raider Arena
Championship Finals
100 — Mylee Goodwin (BC) pinned Calli Ziegler (SC), :44; 107 — Saniya Hammonds (CHS) pinned Lily Shipley (WV), 1:36; 114 — Senna Grassman (CHS) pinned Ayden Schultz (O), 3:29; 120 — Nataleigh Shane (BC) dec. Jaden Evans (YI), 4-0; 126 — Audreyona Perkins (CHS) pinned Mary Bikford (SC), 2:38; 132 — Carolline Helton (CHS) pinned Elah Brown (PC), :51; 138 — Victoria Huffman (BC) won by forfeit Jade Tuley (CC); 145 — Kemoria Turner (C) pinned Stella Wilson (SAS), 3:46; 152 — Marley Harris (WC) pinned Jennelle Phares (WV), 5:02; 165 — Piper Fowler (CHS) won by forfeit Samarah Tafiti (ER); 185 — Ellysia Jennings (CC) dec. Kamari Matthews (ER), 7-2; 235 — Madelin Zunun (CHS) major dec. Shilo Bryan (Moore), 14-4.
Third Place
Matches
100 — Haylie Ramos-Lopez (ER) dec. Anna Melton (CHS), 7-0; 107 — Charley Evans (FC) pinned Calli Ellis (BC), 3:00; 114 — Anna Scoville (SM) pinned Erika Torbett (MC), 1:48; 120 — Jasmine Norris (CC) pinned Charity Haven (PC), 1:57; 126 — Hannah Santiago (Cook) pinned Alina Thompson (SM), :55; 132 — Abigail Santiago (Cook) dec. La`Ngiana Sheehee (BC), 11-4; 138 — Hannah Creller (WV) tech fall Nevaeh Pruett (SC), 23-8, 5:00; 145 — Jianna Bare (CC) tech fall Ellie Turner (YI), 16-0, 2:03; 152 — Kalea Hardy (BC) pinned Mariah Gordon (SC), 3:23; 165 — Edith Provence (SD) pinned Zaria Victor (Hix), 3:39; 185 — Natalia Allen (SC) pinned JayLee Garcia (CHS), 2:18; 235 — Abril Dimas (LA) pinned Abigail Satherlie (McMinn), 3:42.