2023-24 Jay County girls wrestling preview

Projected lineup

100 lbs – Katie Rowles

105 lbs – Briahna McDavid

110 lbs – Tatianna Willis

115 lbs – Brenna Ruble

120 lbs – Sophia Thomas

125 lbs – Allison Tipton

130 lbs – Lina Lingo

135 lbs – Allison Lopez and Tessa Frazee

140 lbs – Emily Manor

145 lbs – Maleah Parsons and Reagan VanSkyock

155 lbs – Madison Gage

170 lbs – Mallory Winner

190 lbs – Amara Crawford and Haley Ridenour

235 lbs – Kaitylyn Affolder

Top returners

Mallory Winner

Three-time state champion

(2022, ‘23, ‘24)

Lina Lingo

Fourth place at state (2024), two appearances

Emily Manor

Eighth place at state (2023), two appearances

Katie Rowles

State appearance (2023)

Maleah Parsons

State appearance (2023)

Fast facts

•After being upgraded to an emerging sport in 2022-23, this is the first year the IHSAA is recognizing girls wrestling as a sport. 

•The Patriots return Mallory Winner, who has won three consecutive state titles at the 160 and 155-pound weight classes. 

•All six Patriots that made the ticket round of the semi-state return for the 2024-25 season.

Schedule

Date    Opponent    Time

Thursday, Nov. 7    North Miami    6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 9    New Palestine    9 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 21    Columbia City    6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 23    Ben Davis    8 a.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 3    Centerville    6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7    East Noble    9 a.m.

Thursday, Dec. 12    New Haven    6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20    Findlay    3:45 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21    Findlay    11 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 3    Sectional    TBA

Friday, Jan. 10    Regional    TBA

Friday, Jan. 17    State Finals    TBA

Home matches in bold

Matches to watch

Thursday, Nov. 21, vs. Columbia City

The Patriots’ match against Columbia City is one of two full events for the girls team at home this season. After facing the Eagles, JCHS will only host New Haven.

Friday-Saturday, Dec. 20-21, at Findlay

The two-day meet in northwest Ohio provides one final tune up for the Patriots before they prepare for the playoffs.

Friday, Jan. 17, Regional at Goshen

Jay County has had good representation at the state tournament over the past few years. Under the IHSAA this year, the regional will be the girls last stop before punching their tickets to the state finals.

2023-24 season

After getting six girls to state in the 2022-23 season, injuries and tough draws resulted in Jay County only getting three of six past the first semi-state tournament. Mallory Winner went on to win the 155-pound bracket for her third straight state championship to lead the Patriots to a seventh-place finish as a team with 41 points. Lina Lingo pulled off a pair of upsets en route to a fourth-place finish and her first state medal after falling short in the state opener a year prior. Despite medaling in the previous season, Emily Manor fell in the opener to the eventual state champion. Three more Patriots, Katie Rowles, Maleah Parsons and Madison Gage, made the semi-state ticket round but fell short of a state appearance.

Coach Eric Myers says

“This is the first year that the IHSAA is sanctioning girls wrestling. We have a really solid team. We have just a little under 20 right now and I think we’re working on a couple other girls, so we should end up being right around 20. Numbers-wise we have one of the larger teams in the state and we have really just a solid team. I think our girls are ready to do some special things. We’ve got two returning state placers (from last year) in Mallory Winner and Lina Lingo. Something really special with Mallory Winner, who has already won three state titles, is looking to win her fourth and first one under the full IHSAA banner.”