CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Rossview High School girls wrestling team put their names in the history books, defeating Clarksville High’s girls to claim the first-ever girls state championship.

Wrestlers from both Clarksville High and Rossview competed in the TSSAA Dual Meet Championship at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park in Franklin on Saturday. Rossview sent their girls team, while Clarksville was represented by both their boys and girls. In dual meets, wrestlers score points for their team by winning their individual matches.

According to announcements by TSSAA officials, this was the first instance in US history of a sanctioned dual championship for girls wrestling at the state level. Over the last several years, Tennessee schools had held their own, unofficial dual championship.

Girls Tournament

Mahkenze Bonczek, right, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Kelsey Mize top, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Katelyn McMillan, top, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
J.T. Nikolao, right, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Gabby Wilkinson, top, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Evelin Ochoa, left, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Caitlyn Miller, top, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ava Teasley, right, pinning as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Anna Jenks, right, at the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Analise Jetter, top, pinning as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Alyssa Adamo, top, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Alexis Mize, top, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Zoe Cobb, top, as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Shaniayha Wysinger, top, as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Miranda Robles, left, as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Lilli Cobb, top, as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Kayla Powers, top, as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Grace McIntyre, top, as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Emma Stewart, right, as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ella-Lina Gonzalez, head on right, pinning as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Caila Weatherspoon, top, as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ava Gray, bottom, as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Alexia Escobedo pinning as the Clarksville High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

While Rossview and Clarksville High face off all the time, it’s rare the rivalry is for the state championship – unless you’re talking about girls wrestling. The two schools met in last year’s unsanctioned championship, which Clarksville won.

Previously, Rossview had won three straight against Tullahoma and Northwest. Despite two different paths to the 2022 finals, the schools met in the title match, where Rossview emerged as winners of the first official championship.

The Lady Hawks’ day began with a semifinal bout against Tullahoma. They cruised to a comfortable victory, winning 10 of the 12 bouts, including the first six. Rossview dispatched Tullahoma with a final score of 54-12; they found wins via Alyssa Adamo, Alexis Mize, Katelyn McMillan, JT Nikolao, Ava Teasley, Caitlyn Miller, Evelin Ochoa, Kelsey Mize, Analise Jetter, and Gabby Wilkinson.

The girls from Clarksville High kicked things off with a match against Cleveland in the semifinal of the four-team tournament. It was a rocky start, to say the least. Cleveland scored four pins in the first five bouts to Clarksville’s one, jumping out to a 24-6 lead.

The Lady Wildcats rallied, however, and won the next six matches. They dropped the last match, but at that point, it didn’t matter; they had already secured themselves a spot in the finals, winning 36-30. Clarksville advanced thanks to Shaniayah Wysinger, Ella-Lina Gonzalez, Emma Stewart, Caila Weatherspoon, Grace McIntyre, Lilli Cobb, and Alexia Escobedo.

Girls Championship Match

Mahkenze Bonczek, right, as the Rossview High School girls wrestling team competes in the semis in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Coach Sharrock-Cobb with the team as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
The RHS team prays as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
The RHS team celebrates winning state as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s Katelyn McMillan pins CHS’s Christen Weatherspoon as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s JT Nikolao, right, CHS’s Shaniayha Wysinger left, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS coach Jeff Price as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s Gabby Wilkinson, top, CHS’s Madelin Allen bottom, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s Evelin Ochoa pins CHS’s Grace McIntyre with one second left as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
The RHS team cheers as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS champs as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
The RHS team celebrates winning state as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s Caitlyn Miller, top, CHS Emma Stewart bottom, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s Ava Teasley on top of CHS’s Miranda Robles as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS assistant coach John Nikolao congratulates coach Jeff Price as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s Analise Jetter, top, CHS’s Alexia, Escobedo, bottom, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s Alyssa Adamo, right, CHS’s Kayla Powers, left, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s Alyssa Adamo celebrates the championship as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS’s Alexis Mize pins CHS’s Ava Gray as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS coach Jeff Price talks to the team as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS’s Shaniayha Wysinger pins RHS’s J.T. Nikolao as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS celebrates the runner-up placement as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
The CHS team in prayer as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS parents celebrate as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS’s Madelin Allen, top, RHS’s Gabby Wilkinson, bottom, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS’s Lilli Cobb, top, RHS’s Kelsey Mize, bottom, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
The CHS team kills time between games as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS’s Emma Stewart, left, RHS’s Caitlyn Miller, right, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS’s Ella-Lina Gonzalez, right, RHS’s Addie Bess, left, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS coach Sharrock Cobb as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS coach Sharrock Cobb as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS’s Caila Weatherspoon, top, RHS’s Anna Jenks, bottom, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS’s Caila Weatherspoon, left, RHS’s Anna Jenks, right, as Rossview High faces Clarksville High in the girls wrestling finals at the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

Clarksville entered the championship match a slight underdog, having lost to Rossview in both the regular season and the region championship this season. But this rivalry always brings out the best in every athlete, and this could go down as the single most exciting clash between these schools in any sport. The stakes could not have been higher, nor the atmosphere more electric, and the girls on both sides delivered.

The first two matches went Rossview’s way, but then Shaniayha Wysinger provided the spark of hope Clarksville High needed. She delivered the upset of the night, coming back to pin 2021 state champion JT Nikolao.

Two matches later, another 2021 state champion, Ella-Lina Gonzalez, took the floor for Clarksville High. She started a streak of three wins for the Wildcats, who took the lead for the first time with five matches to go.

The 126 bout was largely uneventful for two periods, but the action picked up in the final period. In ever-dramatic RHS-CHS fashion, this match culminated with a pin from out of nowhere by Rossview’s Evelin Ochoa with only one second remaining. This put the Hawks back on top, but Clarksville’s Lilli Cobb pinned in the next match to keep things back and forth.

In the 138 match, Gabby Wilkinson of Rossview built a big lead in points, but found herself in trouble late in the third period. She battled to avoid being pinned for about 30 seconds before escaping with the victory and tying the team scores at 27 with two matches to go.

Analise Jetter scored another pin for the Lady Hawks, which meant that Clarksville had to score a pin in the final match just to tie the score again. Rossview’s Alyssa Adamo, who placed 3rd in the state in 2021, crushed those hopes when she sealed the win with a pin of her own.

Match results

Here’s how each match went:

Weight Result RHS Score CHS Score

  • 165 Alexis Mize (RHS) pins Ava Gray 6 0
  • 185 Katelyn McMillan (RHS) pins Christen Weatherspoon 12 0
  • 235 Shaniayha Wysinger (CHS) pins JT Nikolao 12 6
  • 100 Ava Teasley (RHS) pins Miranda Robles 18 6
  • 107 Ella-Lina Gonzalez (CHS) pins Addie Bess 18 12
  • 114 Emma Stewart (CHS) def. Caitlyn Miller, 4-2 18 15
  • 120 Caila Weatherspoon (CHS) pins Anna Jenks 18 21
  • 126 Evelin Ochoa (RHS) pins Grace McIntyre 24 21
  • 132 Lilli Cobb (CHS) pins Kelsey Mize 24 27
  • 138 Gabby Wilkinson (RHS) def. Madelin Allen, 13-8 27 27
  • 145 Analise Jetter (RHS) pins Alexia Escobedo 33 27
  • 152 Alyssa Adamo (RHS) pins Kayla Powers Final: 39 Final: 27

Coach’s reaction

After all the fanfare at the end, we caught up with Rossview head coach Jeff Price, who has spearheaded the growth of girls wrestling in Tennessee with the most successful program so far.

“I was confident,” he said of the ending to the match. “Gabby and Analise and Alyssa – we knew what we had there. We knew if they wrestled, went out and did what they’ve been doing all year, that we were gonna win it. And so the excitement started to build after Evelin pinned with one second left in the third period.”

He continued, saying, “I looked at the math real quick and I was like, ‘OK. As long as we do what we’re supposed to, we’re the state champs.’ So it built up, it was intense, and the expectation has been there all year. So they just achieved what we expected them to.”

Describing the emotions, a misty-eyed Price said, “Proud of them. Proud of them staying together. The 5:30 AM practices. Them not feeling the pressure, and just going out and doing what they wanted to do and having fun with it. They went out and they just wanted it.

“They picked each other up. We had a couple losses there you wouldn’t have expected, and for them to keep their head on, keep moving forward…every day we talk about one day at a time, focus on the task at hand. And in the end that’s what did it. They just did their job and picked each other up, and that’s why a dual championship is honestly more fun than individual, because everyone’s here, everyone experiences it, and everyone has to do their part.”

When asked about how the rivalry and the historical significance played into the match, Price said, “It only intensifies it. It’s very fitting. We probably wouldn’t want it any other way. This whole place was full of boys wrestling for state championships and I feel like everyone was focused on our girls and that means a lot, considering where it’s come from and how it was viewed five years ago.

“It was fun, and we look forward to wrestling Clarksville in the coming weeks and being back here and fighting for another one of these trophies a month from now. Same next year – we’re not going anywhere. It’ll continue to happen, and it’ll be intense every time.”

Clarksville Boys

Zyrion Elliott, bottom, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Seth Robles, right, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Oscar Escobedo, bottom, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Niko Gottlick, top, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Luke Gottlick, bottom, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Koen Ploeckelman, top, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jack Stein, right, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jace Powell, top, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Deago Buck, top, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Cyrus Sanders, top, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Connor Coop, right, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Aidan Johnson, top, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Aidan Brenot, top, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ahmoyre Galbreath, left, as the Clarksville High School boys wrestling team competes in the state championship on Feb. 5, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

After narrowly defeating Cookeville a week earlier to qualify for state, Clarksville’s boys began the day in a quarterfinals match against Wilson Central. Although Clarksville started strong with a pair of wins, Wilson Central came back with a series of pins. Wilson Central’s lead became insurmountable, and although Clarksville picked up some wins and forfeits near the end, Wilson Central won, 42-28.

Clarksville found wins in this opening round from Deago Buck, Jace Powell, Seth Robles, and Aidan Brenot. Jack Stein and Ahmoyre Galbreath won by forfeit.

After the loss, the Wildcats continued in the consolation bracket, where they found themselves up against Summit High School. Jace Powell, Cyrus Sanders, Aidan Johnson, Aidan Brenot, and Deago Buck claimed wins throughout the contest, but Summit came away victorious, 39-25, ending the Wildcats’ dual season.

What’s next

Wrestling action continues with the individual tournaments, beginning Feb. 11th (girls) and 12th (boys) at West Creek High School for the region championship. Last year, Clarksville area schools sent 15 girls and seven boys to the state tournament, with four girls crowned champion. Three boys placed in the top four, all of whom return this year: Clarksville High’s Aidan Brenot plus Rossview’s Sammy Shires and Zack Duessler.