Central-Phenix City outlasts opponents, wins Girls Indians Invitational

Story by Griffin Pritchard | Publisher

Photos by Sandie Free | CAScoreboard Photographer

WETUMPKA – The growth of the Girls Indians Invitational from 2021 to 2022 is indicative of the sport of Girls’ High School Wrestling across the state. The ability to have multiple matches is a selling point for those coaches and growing girls’ programs are searching out. This year’s tournament featured 13 teams traveling distances from the top and bottom of the state to compete. In the end, Central-Phenix City picked up the win scoring 118 points with a roster of 17 wrestlers, the largest team competing in the Girls Indians Invitational.

Red Devils’ Coach Matthew Gittens spoke about the army of red-clad wrestlers surrounding him: “You just have to be visible inside the hallways and on social media. We do everything we can to make sure we can advertise our girls’ successes and our failures. We want to show that our girls are persevering.”

Arab, with five, scored 96 points and finished second. Gulf Shores (seven wrestlers) finished third while Auburn (nine wrestlers) and Montgomery Catholic (seven) finished tied for fourth with 68 points each. Chiles (FLA) with two wrestlers finished sixth with 42 points.

“The biggest improvement from last year to this is the girls are getting better,” said Gulf Shores coach Britt Shaw. “We are getting more exposure. There’s a big push with the Alabama Girls Task Force. Everybody is pushing for more girls’ tournaments. You can find a girls’ tournament just about every weekend now. We’ve seen a slight growth (in our program). But it’s nothing like what Central-Phenix City has…they brought like 50 girls to this tournament. You’ve got other teams. Arab girls are tough and getting bigger. Wetumpka has a few tough girls and so does Auburn.”

With Daphne (ranked 20^th in the most recent TEAM USA Wrestling Rankings) absent, the field was wide open for the most part.

Arab, Central-Phenix City and Auburn are ranked 5^th, 6^th and (Tied for) 9^th, respectively in the most recent Wrestle Rankings published by the Alabama Wrestling Coaches Association. Gulf Shores and the host Indians – while not having a team ranking – had several competitors ranked within their weight classes.

“Year to year, this tournament has improved because of the growth of the girls,” said Gittens. “It sucks when you come to a tournament and there are only three or four girls there. Then you come to a tournament like this and you are guaranteed four or five matches. That’s how you grow and compete with Florida’s and Georgia’s of the world.”

Both Gittens and Shaw talked about the growth of the sport in their respective areas. Shaw – in the south of the state – said first-year program LeFlore (at a match against the Dolphins) brought more girl wrestlers than guys. Gittens – who sits on the Alabama Wrestling Coalition said he expects the sport to explode within the next two years.

Gittens: “You had around 150-200 girls wrestling last year. This year there are 409 across the state. What it’s going to take is seeing these smaller schools opening up to women’s wrestling. It’s a tough idea for some schools to open up to: is there going to be a female coach; are they going to have the facilities; are they going to have to wrestle mostly boys… I feel like once we educate the people that this is how we do it and we do it, girls wrestling will explode through the roof.”

It also starts with getting girls into the sport at a younger age.

Wetumpka High eighth-grader Juliana Eldridge, for example, is ranked first at 107 pounds and ran the table, defeating Arab’s Madilyn Rogers (a senior) 4-1 in the opening round. Coming out on top in the No. 1 vs. No. 2 opener, Eldridge pinned her next opponent from Central-Phenix City early in the first period and then pinned her next opponent (from Prattville) late in the first period to win the championship.

Eldridge’s championship was the lone bit of Indians success as the day belonged to the Red Devils. Central-Phenix City – with only three wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes – finished first at 114 and 185 (pounds) and then medaled at 107, 120, 126 (3^rd and 4^th place), 132, 145 2^nd and 4^th) and 235 (2^nd and 3^rd).

Results from the 2022 Girls Indians Invitational are listed below:

Girls Indians Invitational

100

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Molly Seidman of Auburn
• 2nd Place – HALEY ZAJACKOWSKI of Arab
• 3rd Place – Cheyenne Penn of Auburn
• 4th Place – CARLEE CARGILE of Prattville

1st Place Match

• Molly Seidman (Auburn) 3-0, Fr. over HALEY ZAJACKOWSKI (Arab) 10-2, Jr. (Fall 2:44)

3rd Place Match

• Cheyenne Penn (Auburn) 9-5, Fr. over CARLEE CARGILE (Prattville) 2-2, 8th. (Inj. 1:33)

107

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Juliana Eldridge of Wetumpka
• 2nd Place – Madilyn Rodgers of Arab
• 3rd Place – Erin Clarkson of Auburn
• 4th Place – Tabitha James of Central
• 5th Place – SHAUNA HUNTER of Prattville

Round 1

• Juliana Eldridge (Wetumpka) 11-0, 8th. over Madilyn Rodgers (Arab) 7-1, Sr. (Dec 4-1)
• Tabitha James (Central) 3-9, 8th. over SHAUNA HUNTER (Prattville) 0-4, 8th. (Fall 3:39)

Round 2

• Erin Clarkson (Auburn) 11-2, Jr. over SHAUNA HUNTER (Prattville) 0-4, 8th. (Fall 0:55)
• Juliana Eldridge (Wetumpka) 11-0, 8th. over Tabitha James (Central) 3-9, 8th. (Fall 0:26)

Round 3

• Erin Clarkson (Auburn) 11-2, Jr. over Tabitha James (Central) 3-9, 8th. (Fall 0:22)
• Madilyn Rodgers (Arab) 7-1, Sr. over SHAUNA HUNTER (Prattville) 0-4, 8th. (Fall 0:21)

Round 4

• Madilyn Rodgers (Arab) 7-1, Sr. over Erin Clarkson (Auburn) 11-2, Jr. (Fall 1:11)
• Juliana Eldridge (Wetumpka) 11-0, 8th. over SHAUNA HUNTER (Prattville) 0-4, 8th. (Fall 1:27)

Round 5

• Juliana Eldridge (Wetumpka) 11-0, 8th. over Erin Clarkson (Auburn) 11-2, Jr. (Fall 0:51)
• Madilyn Rodgers (Arab) 7-1, Sr. over Tabitha James (Central) 3-9, 8th. (Fall 0:44)

114

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Ally Holland of Central
• 2nd Place – Lilly Abbott of Montgomery Catholic
• 3rd Place – Erika Childers of Gulf Shores
• 4th Place – Bhiranuj Lertwongsatien of Central

1st Place Match

• Ally Holland (Central) 4-3, 8th. over Lilly Abbott (Montgomery Catholic) 12-8, So. (Fall 2:12)

3rd Place Match

• Erika Childers (Gulf Shores) 7-14, 8th. over Bhiranuj Lertwongsatien (Central) 4-10, So. (Fall 1:44)

120

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Amylia Thomas of Montevallo
• 2nd Place – RIHANNA MARINER of Arab
• 3rd Place – Jaedyn Dunn of Central
• 4th Place – Nellie Millergreen of Wetumpka

1st Place Match

• Amylia Thomas (Montevallo) 6-1, 8th. over RIHANNA MARINER (Arab) 12-5, Sr. (Fall 2:54)

3rd Place Match

• Jaedyn Dunn (Central) 6-4, Fr. over Nellie Millergreen (Wetumpka) 2-2, Jr. (Fall 1:57)

126

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Leah Guthrie of Gulf Shores
• 2nd Place – Olivia Parker of Montgomery Catholic
• 3rd Place – Moriah Mitchell of Central
• 4th Place – Arianna Dinkins of Central
• 5th Place – Samara Heard of Benjamin Russell

Round 1

• Olivia Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 16-4, Fr. over Arianna Dinkins (Central) 2-4, 8th. (Fall 0:15)
• Moriah Mitchell (Central) 4-10, Fr. over Samara Heard (Benjamin Russell) 0-4, So. (Fall 3:31)

Round 2

• Leah Guthrie (Gulf Shores) 23-2, Fr. over Samara Heard (Benjamin Russell) 0-4, So. (Fall 0:34)
• Olivia Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 16-4, Fr. over Moriah Mitchell (Central) 4-10, Fr. (Fall 1:21)

Round 3

• Leah Guthrie (Gulf Shores) 23-2, Fr. over Moriah Mitchell (Central) 4-10, Fr. (Fall 0:26)
• Arianna Dinkins (Central) 2-4, 8th. over Samara Heard (Benjamin Russell) 0-4, So. (Fall 0:14)

Round 4

• Leah Guthrie (Gulf Shores) 23-2, Fr. over Arianna Dinkins (Central) 2-4, 8th. (Fall 0:44)
• Olivia Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 16-4, Fr. over Samara Heard (Benjamin Russell) 0-4, So. (Fall 1:27)

Round 5

• Leah Guthrie (Gulf Shores) 23-2, Fr. over Olivia Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 16-4, Fr. (Fall 0:44)
• Moriah Mitchell (Central) 4-10, Fr. over Arianna Dinkins (Central) 2-4, 8th. (Fall 0:26)

132

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Ashley Shaw of Chiles
• 2nd Place – Nevaeh Browder of Prattville
• 3rd Place – Rhyleah Gleber of Gulf Shores
• 4th Place – Taylor Reid of Central

1st Place Match

• Ashley Shaw (Chiles) 9-1, Jr. over Nevaeh Browder (Prattville) 11-2, Sr. (Dec 7-1)

3rd Place Match

• Rhyleah Gleber (Gulf Shores) 18-6, 8th. over Taylor Reid (Central) 2-4, So. (Fall 0:51)

138

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Heather Butler of Chelsea
• 2nd Place – Philipa Parker of Montgomery Catholic
• 3rd Place – Hayden Kendall of Auburn
• 4th Place – Madalyn Cusulos of Gulf Shores

Round 1

• Philipa Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 18-3, Jr. over Madalyn Cusulos (Gulf Shores) 4-11, Fr. (Fall 1:24)
• Heather Butler (Chelsea) 15-5, 7th. over Hayden Kendall (Auburn) 6-6, So. (Fall 2:30)

Round 2

• Philipa Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 18-3, Jr. over Hayden Kendall (Auburn) 6-6, So. (Fall 1:20)
• Heather Butler (Chelsea) 15-5, 7th. over Madalyn Cusulos (Gulf Shores) 4-11, Fr. (Fall 1:18)

Round 3

• Heather Butler (Chelsea) 15-5, 7th. over Philipa Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 18-3, Jr. (Fall 2:26)
• Hayden Kendall (Auburn) 6-6, So. over Madalyn Cusulos (Gulf Shores) 4-11, Fr. (Fall 1:00)

145

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Charlotte Parker of Montgomery Catholic
• 2nd Place – Izzabella Diez of Central
• 3rd Place – Kailee Henshaw of Gulf Shores
• 4th Place – Jondai Bolden of Central

Round 1

• Izzabella Diez (Central) 12-9, So. over Jondai Bolden (Central) 1-6, Fr. (Fall 1:47)
• Charlotte Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 6-0, Sr. over Kailee Henshaw (Gulf Shores) 11-8, Fr. (Fall 0:25)

Round 2

• Izzabella Diez (Central) 12-9, So. over Kailee Henshaw (Gulf Shores) 11-8, Fr. (Fall 1:54)
• Charlotte Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 6-0, Sr. over Jondai Bolden (Central) 1-6, Fr. (Fall 0:38)

Round 3

• Charlotte Parker (Montgomery Catholic) 6-0, Sr. over Izzabella Diez (Central) 12-9, So. (Fall 2:45)
• Kailee Henshaw (Gulf Shores) 11-8, Fr. over Jondai Bolden (Central) 1-6, Fr. (Fall 2:00)

152

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Autumn Boutwell of Arab
• 2nd Place – NEVAEH JACKSON of Central
• 3rd Place – Campbell Hooks of Auburn
• 4th Place – Emily Lehr of Auburn
• 5th Place – Elizabeth Bezerra-Miller of Gulf Shores

Round 1

• Autumn Boutwell (Arab) 8-3, Jr. over Campbell Hooks (Auburn) 10-5, Fr. (Fall 4:39)
• Emily Lehr (Auburn) 3-5, Jr. over Elizabeth Bezerra-Miller (Gulf Shores) 4-19, 8th. (Fall 3:41)

Round 2

• NEVAEH JACKSON (Central) 21-2, Jr. over Elizabeth Bezerra-Miller (Gulf Shores) 4-19, 8th. (Fall 0:33)
• Campbell Hooks (Auburn) 10-5, Fr. over Emily Lehr (Auburn) 3-5, Jr. (TB-1 1-0)

Round 3

• NEVAEH JACKSON (Central) 21-2, Jr. over Emily Lehr (Auburn) 3-5, Jr. (Fall 1:01)
• Autumn Boutwell (Arab) 8-3, Jr. over Elizabeth Bezerra-Miller (Gulf Shores) 4-19, 8th. (Fall 0:24)

Round 4

• Autumn Boutwell (Arab) 8-3, Jr. over NEVAEH JACKSON (Central) 21-2, Jr. (Fall 3:44)
• Campbell Hooks (Auburn) 10-5, Fr. over Elizabeth Bezerra-Miller (Gulf Shores) 4-19, 8th. (Fall 1:15)

Round 5

• NEVAEH JACKSON (Central) 21-2, Jr. over Campbell Hooks (Auburn) 10-5, Fr. (Fall 3:36)
• Autumn Boutwell (Arab) 8-3, Jr. over Emily Lehr (Auburn) 3-5, Jr. (Fall 0:40)

165

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Cadence Lyons of Chiles
• 2nd Place – Tereasha Peasant of Stanhope Elmore
• 3rd Place – Kaelyn Coburn of Auburn
• 4th Place – Didvanni Espinoza of Montevallo

1st Place Match

• Cadence Lyons (Chiles) 5-0, Jr. over Tereasha Peasant (Stanhope Elmore) 2-1, Sr. (Dec 3-0)

3rd Place Match

• Kaelyn Coburn (Auburn) 7-5, Jr. over Didvanni Espinoza (Montevallo) 3-3, Jr. (Fall 0:14)

185

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Hannah McDuffee of Central
• 2nd Place – Brooklyn Cottingham of Benjamin Russell
• 3rd Place – Kyleigh Emory of Central

Round 1

• Brooklyn Cottingham (Benjamin Russell) 1-1, 8th. over Kyleigh Emory (Central) 0-2, Fr. (Fall 0:59)

Round 2

• Hannah McDuffee (Central) 13-4, So. over Brooklyn Cottingham (Benjamin Russell) 1-1, 8th. (Fall 1:53)

Round 3

• Hannah McDuffee (Central) 13-4, So. over Kyleigh Emory (Central) 0-2, Fr. (Fall 0:14)

235

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place – Niya Turner of Arab
• 2nd Place – Ashlynn Johnson of Central
• 3rd Place – Liliana Gutierrez of Central
• 4th Place – Saeddie Tyler of Oak Mountain

Round 1

• Niya Turner (Arab) 12-2, 8th. over Liliana Gutierrez (Central) 2-5, So. (Fall 2:37)
• Ashlynn Johnson (Central) 6-4, So. over Saeddie Tyler (Oak Mountain) 0-7, 8th. (Fall 0:10)

Round 2

• Niya Turner (Arab) 12-2, 8th. over Saeddie Tyler (Oak Mountain) 0-7, 8th. (Fall 0:21)
• Ashlynn Johnson (Central) 6-4, So. over Liliana Gutierrez (Central) 2-5, So. (Fall 1:10)

Round 3

• Niya Turner (Arab) 12-2, 8th. over Ashlynn Johnson (Central) 6-4, So. (Fall 1:01)
• Liliana Gutierrez (Central) 2-5, So. over Saeddie Tyler (Oak Mountain) 0-7, 8th. (Fall 0:15)