It’s the fourth official edition of the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s girls wrestling tournament and things are still changing at a rapid pace for the growing sport.

“It’s been around for a few years now, but what I noticed is every year they get better,” West Branch girls coach Rodger Sharp said. “These girls didn’t grow up wrestling like the boys did. It started recently. The growth has been exponential. Last year they weren’t nearly as good as they were this year.”

With only one division and with more girls participating it’s shaping up to start producing more exciting matches.

“This year at districts there was some wrestling going on,” Sharp said. “Like real hardcore wrestling like you would see with the boys.”

Access to better coaching and better tournaments is paying off and there doesn’t seem to be any slowing down.

“Girls wrestling is harder and harder each year,” Salem coach Drew Hart said. “Where it was five years ago — I don’t want to say miles ahead because I don’t want to give any disrespect to any girls who were the pioneers –but it’s clear every year the girls are getter better and better.”

The girls state tournament begins at 6:20 p.m. on Friday at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Quarterfinals and consolations will continue at 12:50 p.m. on Saturday with Saturday’s second session starting at 7 p.m. Consolations and placement matches will commence at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Girls finals will be held along with the boys starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Paige Cowan

East Liverpool Potters

125 pounds

Jr., 39-4

Cowan enters her third state tournament ranked fifth in the state by DubStat.

“She wants to be the best, and year after year, she’s getting better and better as well,” coach Jeremy Shaw said. “I always tell my wrestlers, no matter what level you get to, you still have to be a student of the sport, right? You have to learn new things and that’s going to give you that extra advantage to stay ahead of the competition. And Paige does that well.”

Cowan was eighth at 110 as a freshman and sixth at 125 as a sophomore. She participates in freestyle in the summer including national team activities.

Walsh Jesuit’s Ava Sommers handed Cowan a 13-6 loss in the district semifinals but that’s not something that is discouraging for Cowan.

“It was a loss to a girl we had not seen before and we talked about it after and she said ‘Coach, I needed that.'” Shaw said. “She said it made her realize she has got a couple of things to sharpen up and it was the motivation she needed to get to state.”

Cowan possibly could have made a run at the state title at 125 last season. She beat the defending state champion Lacie Knick of Olentangy Orange 29-15 in the quarterfinal but injured her ankle in he process. That led to a loss in the semifinal and then two forfeits after that.

“I see that hunger and I see her battling until she gets what she wants,” Shaw said.

Auston Brown

United Eagles

135 pounds

Sr., 41-5

Brown, ranked third in her weight class by DubStat, enters the state tournament as the most experienced wrestler in the 135-pound bracket.

Brown placed third at 125 pounds as a freshman and sophomore and was fourth at 125 as a junior.

“I think she believes in herself a lot more this year,” Seitza said. “I think whether it’s her senior year or whether she’s growing as an athlete or a human, she it wrestling a lot more free this year. There’s nothing like pressure or anything like that. She’s just out there to compete.”

At the district, Brown placed second as she was pinned by two-time state champion Talea Guntrum of Steubenville who is ranked 14th nationally by FloWrestling.

“She’s ranked No. 1 in the state right now and that’s who is leading the pack in that weight class,” Seitza said. “That’s what we are looking for. It’s the goal. She’s on the opposite side of the bracket and in a perfect world that ‘s who we meet in the state finals. But we have to take it one match at a time. There is no such thing as an easy match down there.”

Brown will wrestle in college but is uncommited right now.

“She wrestles almost all year around,” Seitza said. “She also plays soccer. She wrestles freestyle and Greco-Roman for the Samurai Wrestling Club. She’s been a part of Team Ohio her entire high school career at national duals.”

No. 2 ranked Alora Strauser of Archbishop Alter is also on her side of the bracket.

Paige Menough

Salem Quakers

140 pounds

Sr., 45-3

Menough was sent out west for her district tournament and finished second at Findlay on Sunday.

The Quakers opted for the Avon Lake sectional that would take them to Findlay for districts because they believed it was the clearer way to state for some of the team’s wrestlers.

Menough was the only Quaker to escape that district.

“Her three losses this year are to the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 girls in the state,” Salem coach Drew Hart said. “Two of those she was in dogfights in. She’s one of the toughest wrestlers I have ever coached. She doesn’t complain if she’s sick. She still practices if she’s hurt. She’s physically and mentally confident.”

A member of the Quaker girls soccer team as a goalie and a member of the cross country team that finished sixth at state as a team, Menough’s versatility is valued by her coach.

“I think playing multiple sports helps kids from getting burnout,” Hart said. “A lot of sports cross with each other. Even on our boys team I try to get those cross country and soccer kids. They seem to be the ones that have the best cardio.”

Menough, ranked 10th in her weight class by DubStat, plans to wrestle in college at John Carroll in the fall but will not participate in track and field this season where she was a thower.

“She’s familiar with folkstyle, but in college they do freestyle, so she’s going to work on that,” Hart said.

Menough could face No. 1 ranked Youstina Hanna of Columbia Station Columbia in the second round if she were to win her opener.

Grace Bates

West Branch Warriors

155 pounds

Jr., 39-9

One might say that Grace Bates is responsible for getting West Branch’s girls wrestling program its own coaches.

“Last year I was coaching the boys team and I noticed — especially her — that she wanted it,” West Branch girls coach Rodger Sharp said. “So, I said, you know what, I’m going to go to the athletic director and we’re going to start a true girls program where there’s a head coach and assistants. It was really all because of her. Her dedication is unmatched in the sport of wrestling.”

This is only Bates’ second year of wrestling.

“I went to school with her dad Mark and we were on the same wrestling team,” Sharp said. “She had played basketball but when we started the girls program she said why not? Her dad talked to her about it and they agreed, it started there.”

It’s actually a time of great family pride for the Bates family.

“Her brother John is in eighth grade and he’s undefeated (at 35-0) going into state,” Sharp said.

The two siblings do practice against each other from time to time.

“I have them practice every now and then,” Sharp said. “He comes around and watches because he’s in eighth grade and they finish practice a little earlier than us sometimes. I have them spar back and forth.”

Bates is ranked ninth in her weight class by DubStat and will have No. 4 ranked Maya Keane in the opening round match.

“I’m a little biased here, but I think Northeast Ohio wrestling is the best,” Sharp said. “If you’re from this area you’re going to be taught the best wrestling there is. She is going to do well.”

Alanna McGonigal

East Liverpool Potters

170 pounds

Jr., 28-8

McGonigal, who is making her second trup to state, came to the Potter program as a freshman having never wrestled before. It has worked out well, but there is more to unlock.

“I’ve tried to convince her as a new athlete in the sport of wrestling of how good she is and how good she can be,” Shaw said. “She’s struggled a bit with that confidence factor. But she’s one that puts in the work. She’s a hard worker, dedicated and very coachable. She’s a respectful, humble kid. But you have to believe in yourself. She’s capable of being one of the best like the girl from Austintown (Reghan Koch) who is 51-0 and we’ve got a good shot she’s been developing. I think that once she’s ready to let go of that and realize that she has the confidence we’ll see bigger things from her.”

McGonigal’s first opponent will be fifth ranked Razilee Wisseh of Canal Winchester.