Emma Rinehart, Mount Vernon High School’s only female wrestler, placed third in the 115-pound weight class at the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association (OHSWCA) Girls State Wrestling Tournament , Feb. 19-22 at Hilliard Davidson High School in Hilliard.
Harrison High School won the team challenge, followed by Marysville and Olentangy Orange. By virtue of Rinehart’s 20 team points, as she was the Yellow Jackets’ only entered wrestler, Mount Vernon finished with 20 points and came in tied for 40th place of 100 teams that scored points and 121 total entered teams
In Rinehart’s 115-pound weight class, 16 girls were entered. In the first round, Rinehart won by fall over Bailey Brewer of Colerain in 5:44. In the quarterfinal, Rinehart won by fall over Lexi Beadle of Boardman in 3:35.
Rinehart lost in the semifinal round to eventual tournament 115-pound winner Raegan Briggs of Harrison. Briggs won by fall over Rinehart in 0:27. Briggs is 23-0 this year with 19 pins.
Moving on to the consolation semifinal, Rinehart won by a 6-3 decision over Rowan Straughter of Reynoldsburg.
In the third place match, Rinehart came from behind, down 5-0, to get the pin. She won the bronze medal by fall over Lakota West’s Kendra Hiett in 4:33.
After the match, Rinehart said she was excited to have won the bronze as the third best 115-pounder in the state.
“I'm really excited; it’s been a really long year," she said.
Rinehart is now 16-7 this year, with 13 pins.
