Castro and Shore Star at Inaugural Ohio State Championships

Olivia Shore dominated her way to a state title at the inaugural Ohio Girls State Championships. Photo credit: Kevin Bowyer Photography

by Derek Levendusky, AWW Staff Writer

HILLIARD, OH – It all came together for Ohio senior Leilah Castro this year. Ranked #4 in the country last week by FloWrestling, she got to participate in the first-ever girls state championship hosted by the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association. When it was all over, she stood at the top of the podium with the state title and the M.O.W. award.

The New Lexington senior was a perfect 5-0 with five falls en route to the title. “It means a lot to make history,” Castro told the Zanesville Times Recorder. “And it was huge to see all the other girls there with fans in the stands and teams rooting them on.”

Castro made it look easy, securing first period falls in four of her five matches, as her semi opponent Kelcey Dew of Delaware Hayes lasted until 3:09. Castro pinned her finals opponent, #2 seed Kendra Hiett of Lakota West, at the 1:04 mark.

Castro now looks forward to her college career and competing for national team spots at USA Wrestling events. She has not yet committed to a college program.

Castro was an All-American at the Fargo National Championships last year, placing 6th, though she injury-defaulted her final two matches after sustaining an injury in the semi. Castro won the 16U national title in 2017.

Miami East High’s 111-pound Olivia Shore also put on a dominating performance, as Shore went 4-0 with four falls en route to the state title. Shore, a junior, is no stranger to the national scene, making two Cadet world teams in 2017 and 2018. She took 5th at Worlds in 2018. Last year, she made history in Ohio, becoming only the second girl in state history to qualify for the Ohio boys state championships, and becoming the first girl ever to win a match on the championship side of the bracket. She was eventually eliminated in the consolation bracket after losing her second match 4-2.

This year at the inaugural girls’ state tournament, Shore scored first-period falls in her first three matches. It took her until early in the 3rd period to pin her finals opponent Liz Matis at the 4:36 mark.

The event was not an Ohio High School Athletic Association event, but it was a requirement that all participants be members of their OHSAA school’s team.

All finals results:

101 - Hayley Snyder (Warren Local) over Riley Banyas (Elyria) by dec. 8-1
106 - Chelsea Horsley (Bellefontaine) over Samantha Caballero (Badin High) by dec. 7-2
111 - Olivia Shore (Miami East High) over Liz Matis (Parma Sr. High) by fall 4:36
116 – Grace Jones (London Red Raid) over Ellie Pattera (Indian Creek) by dec. 6-4
121 – Leilah Castro (New Lexington) Kendra Hiett (Lakota West) by fall 1:04
126 – Josie Davis (Sidney) over Carmela Castaneda (Defiance) by fall :48
131 - Kaileigh Nuessgen (Beavercreek) over Cassia Zammit (Miamisburg High) by dec. 5-2
137 - Taryn Martin (Olentangy Orange) over Aliya Martin (Big Walnut) by fall 1:13
143 - Allyssa Pirro (Lutheran West) over Zoe Hussar (Rossford) by fall 2:40
150 - Ayala Wolak (Dublin Coffman) over Maia Crumb (Olentangy Berlin) by dec. 12-5
160 - Francesca Lanese (Grove City High) over Sol Franco (Hilliard Bradle) by dec. 4-0
170 - Elizabeth Harlow (Greeneview) over Bailey Hackett (Brookfield) by fall 1:04
189 - Olivia Daniels (Malvern) over Payton Curley (Dover) by fall 1:10
235 - Alaina Jackson (Minerva) over Madeleine Wadesisi (Cleveland Central) by fall 2:21