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Thompson’s Kelsey Siegler, Aenaya Vines, Elizabeth Rosenstiel, Talita Vas and Ava Nguyen, Chelsea’s Heather Butler and Montevallo’s Shiko Thomas, Blakely Baggett and Rosmery Hernandez all won girls wrestling sectional titles. (For the Reporter/Dawn Harrison)

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

Ahead of the inaugural fully-sanctioned AHSAA Girls Wrestling State Championship, the Thompson Warriors, Chelsea Hornets and Montevallo Bulldogs each secured first-place trophies at the sectional championships.

Thompson walked away with five first-place finishes at the AHSAA North Sectional Wrestling Championships from Feb. 6-8 at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham while Chelsea’s Heather Butler and Montevallo’s Shiko Thomas, Blakely Baggett and Rosmery Hernandez won at the AHSAA South Sectional Championships from Feb. 6-8 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery.

In addition, the Warriors won the team championship for the Class 6A/7A North sectionals with 215.5 points and the Bulldogs finished in third place in the Class 1A-5A South sectionals with 84 points, just 0.5 points off second place.

It wasn’t just about the wins though as the top four wrestlers from each weight class advanced to the state tournament, which will take place from Feb. 13-15 at Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.

Thompson’s Kelsey Siegler won the girls 6A/7A North 100-pound championship after she earned a win in sudden victory in the semifinals and a 5-4 decision in the finals.

Ariya Fields of Thompson secured third place in the girls 6A/7A North 107-pound division with a pair of wins in the consolation bracket, including a second-period fall in the semifinals and a win in sudden victory in the third-place match.

Thompson’s Kaydence Seigler earned second place in the girls 6A/7A North 114-pound division. She made a run to the finals with a first-period pin, technical fall and a 5-0 decision before losing an 11-6 decision in the championship match.

Thompson’s Lynleigh Weltzin finished runner-up in the girls 6A/7A North 120-pound division, winning the quarterfinals by a first-period fall and the semifinals by a second-period fall.

Thompson’s Alicia Whitman earned third place in the girls 6A/7A North 132-pound division. After reaching the semifinals of the main bracket, she earned two wins by pinfall in the consolation bracket, including a first-period pin in the third-place match.

Aenaya Vines continued her standout season for Thompson as she won all three of her matches in the girls 6A/7A North 138-pound division to take the sectional title. She won each match in under a minute with pins at the 24-second mark of the quarterfinals, 59-second mark of the semifinals and 41-second mark of the finals.

Thompson’s Elizabeth Rosenstiel improved to 40-1 on the season with a first-place finish in the girls 6A/7A North 145-pound division. After a pair of first-period falls in her first two matches, she cruised to a 15-0 technical fall at the 1:12 mark of the finals.

Thompson’s Talita Vas won the girls 6A/7A North 152-pound division after walking away with three first-period pins across her three matches.

Anna Gann of Thompson earned third place in the girls 6A/7A North 175-pound division. She reached the semifinals of the main bracket but dropped into the consolation bracket, where she had to win a 6-1 decision and secure a second-period fall to take third place.

Thompson’s Ava Nguyen won the girls 6A/7A North 185-pound division with a first-period fall in the semifinals and a 16-0 technical fall at the 2:28-mark of the championship match.

Thompson’s Gissell Trejo was already guaranteed a spot at state in the four-woman girls 6A/7A North 235-pound division, but she came in third place thanks to a first-period fall in the third-place match.

Chelsea’s Butler continued to make history with a dominant run through the girls 6A/7A South 165-pound division. She finished each of her three wins in under 50 seconds to win first place at sectionals.

Butler won her quarterfinals match with a 47-second pin, her semifinals match by a 29-second pin and finals match by a 46-second pin to improve to 34-4 on the season.

As for the 1A-5A divisions, Montevallo’s Thomas won the girls 1A-5A South 126-pound division. She improved to 16-0 on the year thanks to a 26-second pin in the first round, a 21-second pin in the semifinals and a second-period pin in the championship match.

Montevallo’s Baggett also secured three pins en route to the girls 1A-5A 132-pound division championship. After winning in the quarterfinals and semifinals by first-period pins, she earned a second-period pin to win the sectional title and improve to 16-3 on the year.

Montevallo’s Natalie Guizar qualified for state by way of a third-place finish in the girls 1A-5A South 138-pound division. She earned a second-period pin in the consolation semifinals before taking a pin at the 5:29-mark of the third-place match to win.

Montevallo’s Hernandez gave the Bulldogs their third sectional champion of the year with a first-place finish in the girls 1A-5A 185-pound division. She won her first match by a 39-second pin before advancing to the finals off a forfeit. There, she pinned her opponent at the 3:06-mark to take first place.

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