Team Tennessee takes on the USA at Girls Folkstyle Nationals
by Jenna Morris
Team Tennessee traveled to Oklahoma City and competed in the US Marine Corps Girls Folkstyle Nationals. This four day event featured over 800 elite female wrestlers from around the country. Out of the 28 wrestlers Tennessee registered, 10 walked away All-Americans with 2 champions and 1 who earned All-American status in 2 different divisions.
Emma Walker, sophomore of Rossview High School, was the first to wear the crown of National Champion from Tennessee. Pinning her way through the semifinals of the 132 pound cadets, she dominated her finals match against Charmayne Delong of Wyoming, 16-3. Walker also participated in the Junior division where she earned her second All-American status, finishing 3rd place after fighting her way through the consolation rounds. Tennessee knew that Walker was the real deal when she finished the season undefeated this year, and now her performance at this tournament left no doubt that she is one of the top wrestlers in the nation.
Kenya Lee Sloan, senior of Hardin Valley High School, followed up Walker’s championship performance and her 4X state championship performance, earning the national champion status in the Junior 180 pound division. Sloan dominated the entire tournament, pinning 6 out of 8 opponents. Sloan’s finals match was against Alexandra Castillo from California where she defeated her with a decision of 6-1. Sloan’s experience and leadership on this trip will be difficult to replace. Tennessee is going to miss her presence, and Campbell’s University is receiving a champion on and off the mat.
Wrestlers who earned All-American status in the cadet division were:
Avery Kibelbek- 3rd place at 94 pounds
Tyesha Thomas- 8th place at 112 pounds
Emma Walker- CHAMPION at 132 pounds
Maggie Kite- 5th at 180 pounds
Taylor Davis- 5th at 220 pounds
Wrestlers who earned All-American status in the junior division were:
Emma Walker- 3rd at pounds
Gabby Neal- 7th at 164 pounds
Kenya Sloan- CHAMPION at 180 pounds
Rose Gailah- 6th at 200 pounds
Zanaya Shropshire- 8th at 200 pounds
Team Tennessee also entered into the duals on Sunday of the tournament and finished 7th out of 21 teams. It was amazing to see the girls come together and grind as a team! A lot of the girls had never had the opportunity to participate in a dual setting before. After taking a tough 36-33 loss that came down to the last match against Kansas, the girls were able to bounce back and defeat Colorado. However, the scare of sending a fellow teammate to the hospital via ambulance caused the team’s morale to fizzle, and we lost the next two matches to teams out of California and Georgia. With the return from the hospital of injured teammate, Leanne Worley, the girls were able to band together once more to end the tournament on a high note, defeating another Colorado team.
Tennessee wrestlers who competed in this tournament were:
Kenya Lee Sloan
Katie Scoville
Emma Walker
Kate Barnett
Sonoma Davis
Julianna Gibson
Taylor Davis
Tyesha Thomas
Haley Brown
Robin Yunis
Maggie Kite
Taylor Whitehurst
Rose Gailah
Leanne Worley
Zanaya Shropshire
Avery Kibelbek
Catherine Palmieri
Gabby Neal
Paige Snapp
Bryce White
Jane Allen
Kaleigh Royal
Katy Champion
Hailey Stevenson
Brette Spink
Genesis Tinoco
Bella Badon
As a side note from the girls’ performances, I think it is important to talk about the growth of the team within the last two years. Two years ago, there were only 4 Tennessee wrestlers competing at this tournament. This year, we had 28 wrestlers compete and do well. Girls wrestling is most definitely on the rise in our state, and we are doing something right. Coach Doug Badon had a vision for this team and for the state of Tennessee, and he has quickly made that vision become a reality by forming and organizing this amazing team. With the help of coaches who are passionate about these girls and their successes, girls wrestling in Tennessee will keep creeping up the ladder to become one of the most dominant states. A special thanks should go out to the coaches who poured their hearts and souls into the successes of each individual wrestler and this team: Coach Doug Badon (Daniel Boone), Coach Junior Hernandez (Heritage), Coach Michael Scott (Cane Ridge), Coach Brad Warren (Rossview), Coach Daisy Martin (William Blount), and Coach Tori Feuerbacher (Tullahoma).
If a wrestler is interested in working to get better and joining the team next year, she should contact Coach Doug Badon and follow the team’s page on Facebook: TN Girls USA Wrestling.
