Girls wrestling: Area girls win sectional titles at Avon Lake

AVON LAKE —Brunswick senior Marisa McCartin and Black River junior Taylor Owen are one step closer to return trips to Columbus, while Highland sophomore Lexi Timura validated her decision to move up a weight class. Each girls wrestler won an Avon Lake Sectional title Sunday. For McCartin, who defeated Lakewood's Fallon Popovich by pin in 1:34 in the 130-pound championship match, the sectional was just another step on the road back to the state, where she finished eighth at 125 last season. "I came in confident. I knew today was just the start of the journey," said McCartin, who is 33-3 this season. "I know I have to be ready to face any obstacle that comes before me, and today was just the first one. I've had a good season this year, and I'm just hungry for more." The Blue Devils finished sixth as a team with 74.5 points and qualified three for the Findlay District. Joining McCartin will be teammate Sarah King (125), who lost her championship match to three-time state placer Anna Madi of Brecksville, and Leah Wade, who finished fourth at 170. Owen, a two-time state placer, only needed 2:08 to pin her first three opponents at 155 before winning the title with a 13-3 major decision over Valley Forge senior Joanna Torres. "I wasn't expecting the final match to be that good of a match, honestly," Owen said. "I hadn't wrested her all year, and I didn't know too much about her. Owen led 6-1 after two periods but needed a late takedown to secure the major decision. "I never doubted myself. I always try to stay positive," Owen said. "I always have it set in my mind that I'm gonna win and I want it more. I'm on my way to get first (at state), I want it bad. I just want to prove it here and keep proving it all the way to state." Timura spent most of the season at 155 before moving up to 170 just before sectionals. She looked like she'd been dominating the weight class all season, as she won all three of her matches by pin, including defeating North Ridgeville freshman Collins Bizub in 1:06 to clinch the crown. "I went up a weight class last week, and I've just been practicing a lot," Timura said. "It's been really hard, but I think it's going to be beneficial and make me a better wrestler. "It's so different at 170. The girls wrestle so differently. They are so much stronger and so much better it's a huge challenge. " The Hornets finished seventh with 74 points. Salem won, with host Avon Lake finishing second. Highland's Ilona Kuziv (135), Kelsey Denholm (140) and Trinity Smith (235) will join Timura in Findlay. Contact Todd Shapiro at sports@medina-gazette.com. ResultsStandings (top 10): 1. Salem 121, 2. Avon Lake 106.5, 3 Lakewood 98, 4. Midview 96.5, 5. Normandy 86, 6. Brunswick 74.5, 7. Highland 74, 8. Lorain 62, 8. Valley Forge 62, 10. North Royalton 58.5, T-16. Black River 39. 100 — Cali Otero (Lorain) d. Destiny Cabot (Avon Lake), 3-2. 105 — Brooke Yontosh (Normandy) p. Alana Brown (Lakewood), 0:57. 110 — Anna Tsirambidis (North Royalton) p. Alina Mortus (Lutheran West), 0:41. 115 — Delaney Callahan (Salem) p. Aubree Costlow (Midview), 4:25. 120 — Riley Robertson (Lakewood) m.d. Elana Quigley (Lutheran West), 10-0. 125 — Anna Madi (Brecksville) p. Sarah King (Brunswick), 3:04. 130 — Marisa McCartin (Brunswick) p. Fallon Popovich (Lakewood), 1:34. 135 — El Tha (Lakewood) p. Kaylen Martin (Avon Lake), 3:18; THIRD: Ilona Kuziv (Highland) p. Giada Pomeroy (Brunswick), 3:58. 140 — Paige Menough (Salem) def. Nylashia Phillips (Lorain), 7-2. 145 — Amber Le Bourdais (Salem) p. Alaina Malone-Brown (Midview), 0:14. 155 — Taylor Owen (Black River) m.d. Joanna Torres (Valley Forge), 13-3. 170 — Lexi Timura (Highland) p. Collins Bizub (North Ridgeville), 1:06; THIRD: Lyric McCullough (Salem) p. Leah Wade (Brunswick), 1:34. 190 — Tamiya Whittsette (John Adams) def. Zyaira Brashers, fall 0:25. 235 — Hadeel Abuqbitta (Valley Forge) p. La'Nyah Lewis, 4:27; THIRD: Layla Simmons (Normandy) p. Trinity Smith (Highland), 1:40.