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Celina sophomore Kenzie Miracle performs a fireman's carry on her coach - and father - James Miracle during a practice. The sophomore will compete in the first OHSAA-sanctioned state tournament for girls wrestling starting Friday at Ohio State University.
Last season, Kenzie Miracle returned to wrestling in December of 2021 and worked hard enough to reach the state tournament run by the state coaches association.
Now, a year later and with a full year of training under her belt, the Celina sophomore will compete in the first Ohio High School Athletic Association-sanctioned state tournament that runs along with the boys state tournament.
"It's really cool, especially since it's at the Schottenstein Center," said Miracle during a break in practice this week. "We get to be alongside the boys this year after we were on our own. It'll be cool to be in front of all those people."
Miracle, who had given up wrestling as she entered high school, picked it back up in December and did well enough to qualify for the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association-sponsored state tournament held at Hilliard Davidson High School in February 2022, where she just missed a spot on the podium.
In May, the OHSAA announced that it would sanction a state tournament at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of The Ohio State University, a nod to the growth in girls' wrestling over the past several years in parts of the state.
"As soon as I heard it would be with the boys at the Schott, it was a big goal to get back and be at the Schott," said Miracle.
After that, Celina approved girls wrestling as a club sport, meaning that the team would have to fund itself until the school deems it ready to be considered a varsity sport. When the season got underway in November, seven high school and 16 middle school students joined the program.
"We practiced Mondays and Fridays and went to as many tournaments as we could," said Miracle. "Dad (Celina coach James Miracle) was coaching both boys and girls. It was nice to be (part of a team) and not be on my own."
Miracle did well enough to earn a fourth seed at 105 pounds at the regional tournament held last Sunday in Marysville. Two teammates - Melanie Buschor and Larissa Jackson - also qualified. Miracle won her first bout to reach the semifinals, but lost a close bout and had to win one match in the consolation bracket to capture the elusive state berth, which she did with a pinfall.
"When I won my first match, I was like 'I can do it,' " said Kenzie Miracle. "I was disappointed (losing in the semfinals) and I had to go back to the (consolations). I knew I had to win that one to go. Second I won, it was pure excitement. Tears were flowing."
The ticket to state is big for the Miracle family as coach Miracle qualified for state during his days wrestling for Celina before graduating in 1999.
"It's big for the family," said coach Miracle. "My son (Brycen) was that close (to making state). I made it in the 1990s. Every team has that name for sports. Here were. (At Celina) we have the Kings, the Miracles, the Hintons back when I wrestled and the Grays in the 2000s (along with Jim Gray, who finished runner-up for Celina back in the 1980s)."
"It's going to be great - especially if I place - to have my dad with me," said Kenzie Miracle.
Miracle (33-8) faces Vermilion's Lauren Ficker (28-6) in the first round on Friday.
St. Marys' Tate Hisey is making his second trip to the state tournament in his sophomore year.
Last year, Tate Hisey wrestled his way to a fifth-place finish at 106 pounds in the boys Division II tournament, making it a family affair as his older twin brothers Trevor and Tyler also reached the podium.
Now, Tate Hisey is looking for a better finish, and has the resume to make a long run.
The sophomore moved up to 113 pounds this season and has rung up a stellar 40-0 record, easily winning the Western Buckeye League for his second league crown after winning at 106 as a freshman. In the postseason, Hisey won four of his seven matches via pinfall. The other three matches were won by decision with a combined score of 18-2.
Hisey opens his state run against Marlington's Aiden Bean, a sophomore who is 40-15 this season. Bean finished fourth at the Garfield Heights district.
Coldwater's Will Fox made history by winning the Cavaliers' first district championship this year, taking first at 215 pounds to earn his second trip to state.
In the first 46 years of the wrestling program, Coldwater has had 27 wrestlers reach the state tournament, with seven earning at least one podium finish at state.
But the Cavaliers never had a district champion until this season, when senior Will Fox won the 215-pound championship at the Division III district at Troy's Hobart Arena.
Fox is making his second trip to state. Last year he competed at 285 pounds, winning his opening bout before dropping two straight to end his season in the second round of consolations. This year Fox dropped to 215 pounds and has been dominant in the weight class, going 39-4.
First up for Fox on Friday afternoon is Ethan Crawford of Genoa, who placed fourth at the Rossford District. Crawford is 39-11 on the season.
The last Cavalier to reach the podium was Caleb Stammen, who placed eighth at 195 pounds in 2021.
St. Marys' Bo Hertenstein made a run to the district title match at 144 pounds to earn a berth in this weekend's state tournament.
St. Marys' Bo Hertenstein got ready for the tournament by winning the WBL 144-pound championship, but at the Division II sectional at Defiance, he finished fourth to earn the final berth to the district.
Once at districts, Hertenstein caught fire, winning a close 11-9 match in overtime in the opening round before winning back-to-back matches via pinfall to reach the championship bout, where he lost to Ontario's Julian McGinty via pinfall to finish runner-up.
Hertenstein (22-10) opens his tournament with a match with Buckeye's Nick Brunst (35-14), who placed third at Garfield Heights.
