Kokomo High School has a storied past, littered with successful male wrestlers. This past weekend, it was the girls’ turn. Young ladies from high schools across the state traveled to Memorial Gymnasium for the Sixth Annual Indiana High School Girls Wrestling State Finals.
Three Kokomo High School wrestlers joined 165 other young women in the battle for state titles across 14 weight classes. Junior Aulani Davis completed her quest for a third state championship. She was joined by two first-year wrestlers, sophomores Brielle Humphries and Leah Mitchell, who all punched their tickets at regionals.
Aulani Davis prepares to turn her opponent, Celia Zingaro of Terre Haute North
AULANI DAVIS
Aulani Davis was the favorite to repeat as a state champion for the third time. She earned her first title as a freshman and grabbed the same title as a sophomore. As a junior, she put another medal on the shelf toward her long-term goal of winning IHSGW State four years in a row; a goal she has held since ninth grade.
“When I started, girls wrestling was not a big thing at all. It was hard to even get me matches because there were so many that wouldn’t wrestle me because I’m a girl. The fact that people are encouraging [the sport] now and it’s growing is really cool,” Davis said.
Kokomo High School Girls Wrestling Coach Thad Tyra said that he and Davis share a very special bond, as she has wrestled for him since she was five years old.
Davis prepares for her title match
“We’ve been together for so long. We have a special bond,” Tyra stated. “I don’t ever have to say anything to her. I do, because I’m boisterous, but I don’t have to. We can look at each other, and she knows exactly what I want her to do.”
Davis is preparing for the off season, where she will travel to major national tournaments. Just like her high school season, she already has set goals for the national stage.
“I’m looking forward to national tournaments and getting my name out nationally,” she said. “One of my only goals this year is to place in Fargo [North Dakota]. It’s a really big freestyle tournament. I was close to placing in both categories last year. It’s what I’m working for.”
Davis pinned her opponent at the 3:50 mark; only the second time she wrestled into the second period this season
She said that she is thankful for the community who has supported her over the last several years, as well as coaches Bough and Tyra for the time they have invested and opportunities they helped her get.
“They’re my biggest supporters. I would probably not be anywhere close to where I am without them. I’m so grateful for them,” she said.
Brielle Humphries gave a good showing at her first state tournament
BRIELLE HUMPHRIES
Footballer turned wrestler, Brielle Humphries earned fourth place in the state in her weight class. Also new to the sport, Humphries used her grit and determination to set goals, work hard, and achieve her season goal. That goal was to break into the top five on the podium, and she did just that. She is already looking forward to next season, setting the goal to go undefeated and win the state title.
According to Tyra, she could be on her way.
“Girls State Champion Riley Dempewolf (McCutcheon High School) came off the podium, came over to me, and said that she wanted me to get Brielle to work out with her. [Dempewolf] is a senior, and she said she needs a workout partner. She also said she wanted Brielle to be the next state champion because she likes the way she wrestles.”
Humphries chats with a classmate prior to her match
Humphries is used to a large stadium with loud fans, but even playing football for the Wildkats didn’t prepare her for what the atmosphere would be like at an individual state final.
“It was loud. Everyone was saying my name. Everyone was rooting for me. I was surprised at the number of people out supporting me,” Humphries said. “I like that atmosphere.”
After a fourth place finish, Humphries receives words of encouragement from coach Jacob Bough
LEAH MITCHELL
Kokomo’s Leah Mitchell earned her ticket to the State Finals by qualifying at regionals. New to the sport, the cross country and track athlete is built for wrestling, according to Tyra and Kokomo High School Head Wrestling Coach Jacob Bough.
“She’s an all-around athlete. We saw her and knew she needed to be on the mat,” Tyra said. “Leah is very dedicated. She wants to learn. She didn’t win a match until like the fourth tournament we went to, but it flipped the switch.”
Bough continued, “She’s in a tough weight class. To be able to qualify for this and say you deserve to be here, I hope it only pushes her. We’ve only scratched the surface with her.”
Mitchell said she watched her friend and fellow wrestler Davis in the sport and had interest. When she was approached to join the team, she was in.
“At the start, it was super confusing. I had no clue what I was doing. As time went on, I caught on. I saw what other people were doing, so I tried that, and Coach Thad taught me a lot of technique,” Mitchell said. “I did not think I’d make it to state when I started.”
Mitchell plans to continue in the sport, possibly attending camps over the summer and attempting to earn a spot with Team Indiana; a travel wrestling club. Her goal is to place at the state finals next year, even if it is seventh place.
TOURNAMENT
This was the second time Kokomo hosted this event, and the gymnasium was filled with more than 2,000 enthusiastic participants and supporters.
“To be able to hold this here at Memorial Gym, everyone is loving it,” stated Bough. “The atmosphere is great, and for our girls to be able to (wrestle at home), it’s even more special.”
In years past, only the top four placements at the northern and southern regionals advanced to the State Finals. However, Tyra said the number of entrants at the regional event caused the event planners to consider expanding the field. He said they noticed a higher number of girls entering the tournament, so they made the state tournament bigger. More than 350 girls registered for regionals.
Memorial Gym was transformed from its historic basketball court to a three-ring field, ready for action. But the state tournament was held on Friday during the day; a time which is difficult for supporters to be able to attend. Tyra said that he hopes to see the event move to the weekend so more fans can attend.
“We want to see women’s wrestling grow,” Tyra said. “We have two colleges here in the state that have women’s wrestling programs. [The University of] Iowa announced right before the men’s season that they would host a women’s team. They’re the first Big 10 school to do so. Ohio recently sanctioned girls wrestling for high school. They’re the 33rd state to do so. It’s coming.”
He continued, “Over the six years of helping out with this event, the advancement of the girls, their technique is so far above what it was when we started this. A lot of people who are really involved with boys wrestling are saying they really love to watch the girls wrestle.”