Lady Vikings capture team state title in wrestling

Northwest wrestling coach Ben Smitherman felt there was no mathematical way his girls wrestling team could lose the team state championship after Friday's impressive day.

He was right.

With 100 points, Northwest High captured the Class AAA team state title after Saturday's final day of the TSSAA State Wrestling Championships at the Williamson County Expo Center. Bearden finished state runner-up with 54 points while Rossview's girls took third place overall with 50 points. Montgomery Central took 13th while Northeast finished 18th out of 36 schools.

Northwest's Jessica Elery led the way for a third straight year. She captured her third straight state championship at 138 pounds, dominating the competition. Not one opponent she faced at state lasted past the first period. She pinned-out, knocking off Jillian Alford, of William Blount in 1:34.

Northwest had four other wrestlers compete in the state championship match. Lindsey Morrison (148), Deyla Brito-Perez (155) and Catherine Palmieri (185) all finished state runner up after Saturday's event. Stephanie Juarez took third overall at 165.

Rossview got a state champion out of Robin Yunis at 130 pounds. Yunis knocked off Warren County's Hollie Yokley by decision, 3-2. Teammates Emma Walker took third at 148 pounds and Arianna Millan finished fifth at 138,

Northeast's Cathlin Green finished state runner up at 105 pounds.

Montgomery Central's 125-pounder, Elizabeth Currey, finished fourth. And at 155, Keely Sage, of Montgomery Central, took third.

On the boys' side, Clarksville High's freshman Christian Isbell had the highest finish among 3A wrestlers in Montgomery County. He took third place overall at 106 pounds and teammate Bradley Williams took sixth at 182 pounds.

Kenwood's Nate Thacker finished fourth overall at the heavyweight division and Northwest's Dylan Carney took fifth place overall at 195 pounds. Fort Campbell's David Nikolao took sixth at heavyweight in Kentucky's state wrestling tournament.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.