Women’s wrestling has surged in popularity in Indiana in recent years. At Madison Consolidated High School, this marks the second year of an official girls’ wrestling team. With girls’ wrestling being sanctioned as an official sport by the IHSAA in early 2024, this year featured the first sanctioned state tournament for the Lady Cubs.
Sectionals at Floyd Central were a success for the Lady Cubs, with all seven wrestlers placing in the top four and advancing to regionals next Friday at Mooresville. Sectional champions included Savannah Resendiz-Mack at 170 pounds, Bella Zuckschwerdt at 145, and Maylie Skinner at 155. Runner-ups were Maya Bullock at 105, Angelina Yantz at 115, and Brooklyn Neece at heavyweight. Jolene Kennett secured third place at 190.
Preparation for regionals proved challenging for the Lady Cubs. A significant snowstorm on Jan. 5 forced schools across Indiana to go virtual for the week, preventing in-person practices. Without coach-led sessions, the Lady Cubs had to prepare on their own.
Regionals at Mooresville presented tough competition, with the Lady Cubs facing the state’s No. 2, No. 3, No. 6, and No. 9 ranked teams. Bullock, Yantz, Kennett, and Zuckschwerdt were defeated in the first round by formidable opponents. Resendiz-Mack won her first-round match but fell in the ticket round. Skinner and Neece advanced to state after winning their opening two rounds. Skinner finished the day undefeated, earning the regional title with three pins and a major decision. Neece reached the finals with three pins but lost by a decision to Seymour’s No. 6-ranked wrestler.
Freshman Zuckschwerdt, who won a sectional title, faced a tough loss in her first regional match. Despite the setback, she remains determined. “As my coach Sam always says, input over output,” Zuckschwerdt said. “Losing the first round of regionals makes me mad, so it motivates me to get better for next year.”
The IHSAA’s 2025 inaugural girls’ state wrestling tournament took place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Jan. 17. Both Skinner and Neece opened their first-round matches with first-period pins. In the second round, Skinner defeated Greenfield Central’s Ella Harpold 5-0, while Neece fell to eventual state champion Racheal Adolphe from North Central. In the third round, Skinner lost to the nation’s No. 26-ranked wrestler. Neece rebounded with a pin against Jennings County’s Bresa Coan, avenging a sectional loss. Skinner claimed victory in her fourth round by pinning two-time state champion AvaLyn Mosconi, finishing in third place. Neece lost a close 4-1 match to Seymour’s Dhamara Aguilar-Tencle, concluding her tournament in sixth place.
Neece, a sophomore, has two more years to compete. “My mindset going into state was to just work on my moves and not worry about how the other person’s going to wrestle,” Neece said.
“Losing that third round definitely hurt because my goal was to be a state champion. However, I know I have one more year to reach that goal, and I just need to work harder and lock in for next year,” Skinner added.
As the 2024-25 season wraps up, the Lady Cubs have a bright future. With a roster full of underclassmen, the team is poised for growth and success in the coming years.
