Penn girls wrestling team successful at Lebanon Wrestling Invite
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Penn High School Girls Wrestling team has had a stellar season so far, winning the Lebanon Wrestling Invite on December 10th. Kingsmen individual champions that day were Mackenzie Konanz (170) and Jezel Guerrero (220). Placing second in their respective weight classes were Heidi Selis, Maddie Hazeltine, and Giuliana Reed. Third in her weight class was Haylee Selis.
The Lebanon Invitational featured 292 girls competing from 52 high schools. After the event, athletes gathered together for a group photo, holding 23 pieces of poster board to spell out the phrase “#sanction girls wrestling”.
They hope to get the attention of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. The IHSAA voted in May to add Girls Wrestlng and Boys Volleyball as “emerging sports” which means they can both be recognized as sanctioned sports when 50 percent of IHSAA member schools host a team.
The state tournament for Girls Wrestling is run by the coaches association, but is not officially recognized or funded by the IHSAA.
Yet, it’s clear by Penn’s performance in recent years that this sport is not going anywhere. Since the Girls Wrestling State Championship kicked off in 2017, the Penn Girls have won five of the last six titles. Additionally, Penn High School alum Sarah Hildebrandt won a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics for Women’s Wrestling.
The IHSGW Regional takes place Friday, January 6th at Penn High School. The IHSGW State Championship kicks off January 13th in Kokomo.
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