Girls wrestling tournament debuts at 56th Howard County championships
River Hill’s Yasmin Cedars couldn’t contain her excitement with her bag fully packed two days before the Howard County wrestling tournament. Cedars wasn’t alone in that as she was part of a group of girls making history.
For the first time in 56 years, Howard County added a girls individual tournament. While there was no team champion, female wrestlers got to stand on their own podiums for the first time and distinguish themselves among the county’s best.
Cedars certainly made the most of that opportunity as she steamrolled through the 145-pound weight class en route to the title. She cemented that memorable moment with a 7-0 win over Hammond’s Natalie Rawlings. For her efforts, Cedars was recognized as the inaugural Maria Romano-Sweitzer Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament, named after the county’s first female wrestler.
“I think it’s pretty cool that we have all the weight classes filled for the first time and that we’re being recognized in Howard County, especially,” Cedars said. “Maybe, we’ll get some paid girls coaches [moving forward] and we’ll have more focus on girls style wrestling. I think it’s cool that we can make advancements for girls and I’m happy to be a part of that.”
Howard County girls wrestling participation has been on a steady increase in recent seasons. Programs such as Atholton, Hammond, Oakland Mills and Reservoir have seen tremendous interest from female athletes in their schools.
With all that increased interest and abundance of girls wrestling talent, tournament organizer and Howard High athletics and activities manager Brandon Lauer spearheaded the effort to introduce a girls tournament. Lauer explained that he felt it was time as both coaches and athletes were thrilled with the opportunity to showcase their talents on the county’s biggest stage.
Atholton in particular made the most of the evening. The Raiders crowned six girls county champions in Dania Betru (105 pounds), Avery Gilbertson (115), Ashley Wanjiru (120), Kailey Arredondo (125), Aliya Mason (135) and Naima Harvey-Bowen (155).
“My girls work really hard,” Atholton coach Sidney Billups said. “They get out there; they mix it up with the boys. They don’t complain and they want to learn. I can see it in their eyes when we’re coaching. They’re listening, they’re focused. So, when this kind of stuff happens, that’s hat’s off to them for the work they’ve put in.”
“It was everything. They had it in their minds that this is what they wanted to be able to come in here and do because we had that first opportunity. I wish last year would’ve been it, but this means a lot. It’s the very first one that’s on paper and they earned it.”
Oakland Mills, Reservoir and Guilford Park also joined the group of schools with a female county champion. There was a palpable excitement in the air throughout the evening with the inclusion of a girls tournament playing a large part in that.
The finals began with the parade of champions, which included all of the girls finalists near their mat on the far end of the gym. The energy wasn’t just evident in the stands, but also in the swaths of energetic teammates who formed at the edge of the matches to provide encouragement.
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While the girls’ tournament was a tremendous sign of progress and a necessary first step, it’s also a reminder of just how far the county has to go. Nearby areas such as Carroll and Anne Arundel counties prominently feature girls wrestling throughout the regular season and into the postseason.
For Howard County to do that, extra resources, namely a girls specific coach and an additional coaching stipend, would be required. In the meantime, Howard County wrestling coaches and girls wrestlers still find a way to show their passion and commitment to success within the sport.
The 14 girls who became first-time Howard County girls wrestling tournament champions will forever remember that historic accomplishment. However, it can’t be overstated that it’s about more than just those at the top of the podium and the hope that the sport’s persistent growth will inspire the next set of champions to come.
“It’s got to start somewhere,” Billups said. “If you’re going to build a program, there’s always that first one. So, to be etched on the walls as the first champion of Howard County, that means a lot to them.”
Match Results
100: Aumirror Eades (OM) over Sophia Costa De Faria (Ha)
105: Dania Betru (A) over Khadeeja Wikaksano (C)
115: Avery Gilbertson (A) over Alice Chan (GP)
120: Ashley Wanjiru (A) over Evyn Gephardt (Ho)
125: Kailey Arredondo (A) over Alexa Hernandez (OM)
130: Trinam Kurmi (OM) over Elina Par (A)
135: Aliya Mason (A) over Gloria Pau (Re)
140: Joey Starace (OM) over Ella Nelson (A)
145: Yasmin Cedars (RH) over Natalie Rawlings (Ha)
155: Naima Harvey-Bowen (A) over Sabrina Benitez (Ha)
170: Sharen Oyasade (OM) over Kalliopie Douglas (GP)
190: Cara Brown (Re) over Tatiana Vasquez (GP)
235: Deanna Baker (GP) over Jaden Acheru (RH)
Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Steinberg at jsteinberg@baltsun.com443-442-9445 and x.com/jacobstein23.
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