Salem’s Annika Murray takes on Black River’s Nelease Danzy in a 145-pound consolation semifinal on Sunday at the state wrestling tournament at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. (Photo by Matt Morrison)

COLUMBUS — Her coach affectionately calls her a ‘pioneer’ and when it was all said and done on Sunday at the second Ohio High School Athletic Association girls state wrestling tournament, East Liverpool senior Makyah Newlun lived up to the billing.

Newlun became the first East Liverpool and Columbiana County girl to win a state championship as she pinned Eaton’s Caroline Klawon in 1:23 in the 145-pound final on Sunday at the Schottenstein Center.

Newlun ended her senior season 49-2 and pinned all four of her opponents. She was on the mat for a total of 5 minutes and 20 seconds at state.

“Honestly it feels amazing,” Newlun said. “I am just glad that I can pave the way for other girls in my area that are getting into wrestling.”

It was East Liverpool’s first state wrestling title since brothers Darryl (128 pounds) and Jim Hoppel (134 pounds) won in 1955.

“Someone like Makyah is a once in a lifetime type of athlete, but her drive is what got her where she is,” East Liverpool coach Jeremy Shaw said. “She is an athlete that you don’t have to tell what the work is that needs to be done, she knows what the work is and what the path is.”

Newlun balances her serious training in wrestling with serious training in powerlifting and that can sometimes be a challenge. The Potter said she had to change course this season because wrestling at 155 was not where she felt comfortable.

“During the offseason I bulked up to 168, so that’s how I got as strong as I did,” Newlun said. “I definitely needed to cut down. I was fat and slow, so 145 just seemed like the best option for me.”

She said she cut back on heavy lifting during the wrestling season but still did a lot of reps. She said dieting and meal prep allowed her to get to a healthy weight.

The dropping to 145 also served to get her in the best position to get to the top of the podium.

“We looked around the state and she was ranked No. 17 nationally at 170,” Shaw said. “We looked at her path again and talked about 155 again then she talked about the muscle that she put on and the weight that she had gained made it a little slower for her in the motions. She talked to me and our coaches and said I think 145 is the path for me.”

Shaw said was pleased with the way the state champion handled everything.

“She did it the right way,” Shaw said. “She wasn’t fatigued or tired from it and she said that she feels a lot stronger and a lot faster at this weight class.”

United sophomore Auston Brown (46-6) shot up the charts during her second state tournament as she placed third at 125 pounds. Brown had a 7-2 win over Chippewa’s Gabi Gartin and pin of Massillon Perry’s Emma Shephard in 2:17 on Sunday to finish 4-1 at the tournament. Her only loss was to eventual state champion Lacie Knick of Northmont.

“It feels awesome,” Brown said. “I came here last here and got fourth and I’m just working my way to the top.”

The two high finishes in her first two years of high school competition could very well lead to a state championship challenge in her remaining two seasons.

Salem senior Annika Murray got to see the best of the best during her tournament run at 145. On Saturday, she faced off against Newlun for the third time this season and it ended like the others with Newlun winning by pin in the semifinal. But, Murray was also able to defeat defending 145-pound state champion Jesse Foebar of Clermont Northeastern by a 5-1 count in the quarterfinal. Murray (43-11) ended her run with two losses on Sunday and finished sixth after being pinned by Sullivan Black River’s Taylor Owen in the fifth-place match.

Murray said she wasn’t even aware she had beaten the former state champ.

“To be honest I didn’t know,” Murray said laughing. “I didn’t know and after my match they were like ‘Do you know who you just beat?’ and I was like no. Then they were like that was the girl that won state last year.”

Once she had time to reflect, Murray said it was an exciting time.

“I would say it has been really enjoyable,” Murray said. “I feel like I did well and honestly I didn’t know what to expect coming into this, but after I won my second match against the former state champion I just feel like I had a different perspective on everything.”

Also placing for East Liverpool was freshman Paige Cowan who was eighth at 110. Cowan, a freshman, was making her first appearance at state and finished her first season 38-8.

United junior Dakota McCracken had her sights on a high finish at 235 but had to battle back from a quarterfinal loss to finish seventh. McCracken, who sat out a portion of the season recovering from an injury, finished the year 15-3.

Notes

¯ East Liverpool’s other state wrestling champions were Don Chadwich at 155 pounds in 1952 and Darryl Hoppel at 121 pounds in 1954.

Paige Cowan

East Liverpool Potters

110 pounds

38-8, Fr.

FIRST ROUND: Paige Cowan (East Liverpool) dec. Caiden Baird (Harrison), 5-4

QUARTERFINAL: Noel Reinhart (Rossford) pin Paige Cowan (East Liverpool), 3:24

SECOND CONSOLATION: Paige Cowan (East Liverpool) dec. Mallory Zadel (Avon Lake), 4-1

THIRD CONSOLATION: Charley Jones (New Richmond) pin Paige Cowan (East Liverpool), :28

SEVENTH PLACE: Madelyn Begert (CF Northwest) pin Paige Cowan (East Liverpool), 4:52

Auston Brown

United Golden Eagles

125 pounds

46-6, Soph.

FIRST ROUND: Auston Brown (United) pin Lauren Seeman (Licking Hts.), 1:27

QUARTERFINAL: Lacie Knick (Northmont) pin Auston Brown (United), 3:26

SECOND CONSOLATION: Auston Brown (United) pin Kaylee Cherry (Northwestern), 0:45

THIRD CONSOLATION: Auston Brown (United) pin Addison Justice (Licking Valley), 4:23

CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL: Auston Brown (United) dec. Gabi Gartin (Chippewa), 7-2

THIRD PLACE: Auston Brown (United) pin Emma Shephard (Mass. Perry), 2:17

Ilani Jones-Wallace

Salem Quakers

135 pounds

45-7, Sr.

FIRST ROUND: Cailyn Casto (Johnstown) pin Ilani Jones-Wallace (Salem), 4:36

FIRST CONSOLATION: Ilani Jones-Wallace (Salem) pin Marissa Torres (Vermilion), 3:20

SECOND CONSOLATION: Addi Lyon (Marysville) pin Ilani Jones-Wallace (Salem), 3:47

Makyah Newlun

East Liverpool Potters

145 pounds

48-2, Sr.

FIRST ROUND: Makyah Newlun (East Liverpool) pin Elise Fredritz (Carey), 0:30

QUARTERFINAL: Makyah Newlun (East Liverpool) pin Kelsey Bryan (Maysville), :50

SEMIFINAL: Makyah Newlun (East Liverpool) pin Annika Murray (Salem), 2:37

CHAMPIONSHIP: Makyah Newlun (East Liverpool) pin Caroline Klawon (Eaton), 1:23

Annika Murray

Salem Quakers

145 pounds

43-11, Sr.

FIRST ROUND: Annika Murray (Salem) pin Emma Gutierrez (Fremont Ross), 2:54

QUARTERFINAL: Annika Murray (Salem) dec. Jesse Foebar (Clermont Northeastern), 5-1

SEMIFINAL: Makyah Newlun (East Liverpool) pin Annika Murray (Salem), 2:37

CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL: Nelease Danzy (Del. Hayes) dec. Annika Murray (Salem), 10-9

FIFTH PLACE: Taylor Owen (Black River) pin Annika Murray (Salem), 2:23

Jocelyn Brink

West Branch Warriors

190 pounds

17-14, Jr.

FIRST ROUND: Kascidy Garren (Olen. Orange) pin Jocelyn Brink (West Branch), 2:26

FIRST CONSOLATION: Jocelyn Brink (West Branch) pin Hailey Rose Caldwell (Taylor), :46

SECOND CONSOLATION: Riley Alborn (Carrollton) pin Jocelyn Brink (West Branch), 1:45

Dakota McCracken

United Golden Eagles

235 pounds

15-3, Jr.

FIRST ROUND: Dakota McCracken (United) pin Madelynn Meehan (Wester. North), 0:40

QUARTERFINAL: Desi Lee (Marysville) dec. Dakota McCracken (United), 7-2

SECOND CONSOLATION: Dakota McCracken (United) pin Gabby Oregon (Archbold), 0:58

THIRD CONSOLATION: Audrina Pack (Hamilton Township) pin Dakota McCracken (United), 2:13

SEVENTH PLACE: Dakota McCracken (United) pin Le’Naysia Dickson (Brush), :13