Final flourish

INDIANAPOLIS — There were smiles after the opening round, sadness after the second and frustration following the third.

Ultimately, Katie Rowles felt the satisfaction of the referee’s hand slapping the mat in her final match.

Rowles, a Jay County High School senior, became a two-time state medalist with her opening win Friday at the IHSAA Girls Wrestling State Finals and closed her career with another victory to finish in seventh place in the 100-pound weight class at Corteva Coliseum on the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

“I don't really think it's sunk in yet,” said Rowles, who entered the postseason ranked seventh in the state. “It's just crazy to think that, for one, high school wrestling is over, and two, I finally got another win today.

“Today was a little rough. It’s hard to come into the state tournament, especially your last go at the state tournament with big goals, and not let the pressure get to your head. And I don't really feel like I did. I think I wrestled my best … It's nice to finally end it with a win.”

Rowles (30-6) closed her career with a victory by pin over Aniah Delgado of Perry Meridian in the seventh-place match. She won her opening match of the day to secure a top-eight finish and a state medal before dropping her quarterfinal and consolation semifinal bouts.

Her effort earned 7.5 points for Jay County, placing it in 64th out of 121 teams represented in the state tournament. 

Whiteland scored 99.9 points to win the team title ahead of runner-up Crown Point (78.5), with undefeated and top-ranked Kaitlynn Fouty (27-0) of taking the 100-pound state title to lead the way.

“Ups and downs like crazy, because … she wrestled hard every match and a couple of times we didn't get her hand raised,” said JCHS coach Troy Jacks. “But on any other given day, she did enough, had enough effort and enough skill to win those matches.

“(She) won the first one in the morning, won the last one in the evening, and in between, it's going to be a blur for her and for us, but we're happy that she goes home 2-2. That’s super awesome.”

Rowles' final placing came down to another battle against No. 6 Delgado (21-9), who she lost to in overtime in last season’s regional semifinal. She didn’t allow it to last long.

When Delgado took a shot, Rowles sprawled. She avoided the takedown attempt and instead slapped a headlock on her rival. She worked it to a pinning position, finishing the match in just 40 seconds.

“When the shot came, I got my feet back,” said Rowles, who plans to wrestle in college at Indiana Tech. “And I love to rip ’em from there, nice little headlocks. That's what I did.”

Rowles had a strong start to her day, scoring eight points before unranked Annalise Sanchez of New Haven got on the board with an escape 30 seconds into the second period. Sanchez (20-7) closed the gap to 8-4 before Rowles ran off the next 13 in a row, including two near falls, for a 21-4 technical fall victory.

The dream of a state championship came to an end in the quarterfinal round, as Rowles was unable to find any traction against Hobart’s fourth-ranked Joanna Cantu (36-5). Rowles first chased a single-leg takedown at the 1:30 mark of the first period but was unable to finish it, with Cantu eventually slipping behind her for a takedown. 

The same pattern happened in the second and third periods as Cantu defeated Rowles 9-2.

“She hit angles to get the initial set up to finish the takedown, go behind, and the length of the Cantu girl from Hobart just was able to get her to square up on Katie,” said Jacks. “The length, I think, was our downfall there. 

“And Katie kept going back to the drawing board … She had three different types of shots, and they all ended in Cantu getting a takedown. But I wouldn't ask her to do anything different. She’s aggressive.”

Rowles rematched with Roncalli’s Claire May (32-2) in the consolation semifinals after upsetting the second-ranked wrestler in the state with a pin a week earlier in the regional semifinal. A repeat performance was not to be.

Though Rowles got on the board first with a headlock for a takedown midway through the second period, May responded with a reversal 17 seconds later. May chose the bottom position to start the third period. While Rowles attempted to work a half nelson for near-fall points or a pin, May slipped out again for a second reversal and a 4-3 lead.

Rowles fought for an escape in the closing seconds of the match and made it to her feet, but did not get the call to even the score as time expired.

“Just a hard, tough fight between two really good wrestlers,” said Jacks. “Last week, that was Claire's first loss and Katie was one that gave it to her. We knew it was going to be close.”

Undefeated and top-ranked Kaitlynn Fouty (27-0) of Whiteland won the 100-pound state title.

The seventh-place finish with the win over Delgado completed a career in which Rowles was a three-time state qualifier and two-time state medalist. She placed fourth at 100 pounds in 2025 and helped the Patriots win the inaugural IHSAA sectional title at Muncie Central as well.

“I wish we could have everybody work as hard as Katie does,” said Jacks. “She started freshman year, no shoes, no time on the mat. She had gone to watch her brother Cody wrestle, but she didn't really experience any wrestling. And went to state that year … 

“She just inspires the girls. … She’s always trying to build our program. … So I'm going to miss her. For as small as she is, she casts a big shadow for us.”