Prep time

The brackets have been released.

One Patriot got a tough draw.

One Patriot is looking to earn her first medal.

One Patriot is looking for a three-peat.

One thing is the same; all three Patriots have been here before.

No. 10 Emily Manor, No. 11 Lina Lingo and No. 1 Mallory Winner of the Jay County High School girls wrestling team, will compete in the state finals this Friday at Kokomo.

“I just hope they go out there and compete to the best of their ability,” coach Eric Myers said. “All three have been there before, so the hope is to not get caught up in the pageantry of it and just go out there, focus and wrestle hard.”

The Patriots are looking to win their first matches to guarantee a top-eight finish and a medal at state. Once they win their first matches, they will only need to win three more to be crowned state champions.

In the 155-pound bracket, Winner (22-0) matches up with 15th-ranked Sophia Rygiel (11-8) of Greenwood — Rygiel was previously unranked heading into the semi-state event. While the two-time defending state champion will be a heavy favorite to win the match and secure a spot on the podium and feels confident that she is set up for success, she doesn’t want to take any opponent for granted.

“I’m really happy with the draw,” Winner said. “We were waiting all weekend for it to come out and then were really, really happy with what we got. There will be a lot of hard matches Friday morning for some of the other girls, but fortunately I got a good draw where I can make it to the finals in a reasonable manner. …

“Rankings at this point don’t matter. I just have to go out there and wrestle and not take anyone for granted.”

After Rygiel, Winner would face the victor between eighth-ranked Kate McKee (26-9) and 14th-ranked Madison Raper (20-5). Also on her side of the bracket are No. 3 Josie Hause (21-3) and No. 5 Kaily Bussard (26-4), who will face off in the opening round. Bussard took Winner into the third period before getting pinned in the semifinal at Rochester.

Potential opponents in the championship include No. 2 Rhaigyn Trenary (23-2), No. 4 Maylie Skinner (22-2) and No. 6 Grace Hiroms (21-4). One of Heroism and Skinner will be taken out in the opening match by the other. Trenary lost to Winner in a 9-6 decision in the semi-state championship.

As Winner starts to bounce back from an illness she battled during the semi-state tournament, she is confident that she can bring back a third straight state championship to Jay County.

“I know if I wrestle who I am and wrestle how I do in practice, there’s nobody out there that can stop me,” Winner said. “I’ve just got to go out there and do what I do and do what I’ve done the past few years.”

Last season, Lingo (22-9) fell short of medaling at state. 

This year, she likes her 135-pound first-round draw.

Despite finishing third at the semi-state, Lingo’s opponent is only ranked two spots higher as she is set to square off with Switzerland County’s No. 9 Klaire Redwine (8-5). (Redwine was unranked going into the semi-state meet in Mooresville, but the second-place finish bumped her up.)

Lingo has already started looking at film on Redwine to learn more about her style of wrestling to prepare for Friday’s match. A win against Redwine secures her a medal, which is her primary goal.

“It’s a big deal to me,” Lingo said. “As a freshman who didn’t win any matches, I remember going home that night and all I thought after watching that match was, ‘What does it feel like to be on that podium?’ I just wanted to feel that.

“It’s so exciting for me and a little nerve-wracking. I just feel so accomplished and proud of myself for getting where I am today.”

With a victory, Lingo would likely face No. 2 Haylee Selis (15-1) in the quarterfinal match. Also on her side of the bracket is top-ranked Maddie Marsh (10-0). The other side features No. 3 Kaylee Smith (24-3), No. 4 Katy Vardaman (5-1) and No. 5 Sian Rodgers (23-1).