Many of the girls who stood at the top of the podium at the Anne Arundel County girls wrestling championships on Saturday couldn’t have imagined such a thing only a few months ago.
Freshman Olivia Cambio (125 pounds), who pinned her opponent in two minutes, said “No way.” Laylah Jefferson, who endured a 2-0 decision at 235, agreed, having previously only been a viewer of girls wrestling on YouTube and Instagram.
“But I trained so hard,” Jefferson said, “so it was really amazing I was able to do so good.”
Arundel wrestlers up and down the lineup aided their champions in the run to a team title, totaling 170 points, beating out Crofton, who scored 159.5. Kennedy Barnes (110), Michelle Perkins (120) and Erin Wright (170) placed second, while Autumn Read (145) and Gigi Orellana-Henriquez took third.
“It feels really good because most of our team is first-year wrestlers,” Cambio said. “It’s really rewarding, and it feels better than an individual one. I’m so happy for our girls that helped us get here.”
The pioneering spirit carried over to other teams, too.
For the first time since 2013, Glen Burnie put a county champion on the podium – two, actually. Freshman Paschince Gregory (100) took Chesapeake’s Leah Miller into the third period before finally scoring a pin.
Glen Burnie’s Alexis Ogundipe scored one of the night’s biggest surprises when she pinned Wright. The more seasoned Wildcats wrestler led throughout the match and seemed on her way to winning a title.
Instead, Ogundipe’s hand was lifted.
Meade’s 145-pound finalist, Simone Littleford, was nearly pinned by Severna Park’s Alexandra Adams. She did not surrender, instead rattling off eight points in 26 seconds to secure the county title. She leapt to her feet, unable to hide her shock behind a gaping smile. Soon after, Severna Park’s Alanna Adams avenged her twin sister, pinning Meade’s Vivian Abalama – who, up until Saturday, was undefeated (22-1).
Feb. 22, 2025- Luca Brown of Arundel and Glen Burnie's Noah Obinna in the 144 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Arundel's Olivia Cambio won the girls 125 lb. match over Annapolis' Hildegard Zimmerelli at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Northeast's Beau Schmidt is declared winner in the 150 lb. match over Broadneck's Peyton Miller at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025-Meade's Simone Littleford, left, and Severna Park's Alexandra Adams in the girls 145 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Annapoolis' Mike Groszkowski is declared winner over Northeast's Blake Harris in the 132 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Chesapeake's Matthew Curtin, left, and Annapolis' Davis Ruhf in the 175 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Chesapeake's Carson Roberts reacts after beating South River's Trent Shipley in the 120 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Glen Burnie's Alexis Ogundipe, top, and Arundel's Erin Wright in the girls 170 lb. match during the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Old Mill's Noel Noman-Williams reacts after beating Crofton's Chris Coleman in the 190 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Northeast's Beau Schmidt, left, and Broadneck's Peyton Miller in the 150 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Chesapeake's Carson Roberts, left, and South River's Trent Shipley in the 120 lb. match during the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025-Crofton's Emily Alvarez, right, and Southern's Piper Henry in the girls 105 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Crofton's Lilah Pabon, left, and North County's Reese Butler in the girls 155 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Chesapeake's Rex Graves, left, and Arundel's Cole Figueroa in the 138 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Northeast's Blake Harris takes down Annapolis' Mike Groszkowski in the 132 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Chesapeake's Rex Graves reacts after his win over Arundel's Cole Figueroa in the 138 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- Crofton's Nora Kelly reacts after beating Chesapeake's Amber Walker in the girls 130 lb. match during the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Feb. 22, 2025- South River's Jackson Peeples, right, and Chesapeake's Bently Schmidt in the 113 lb. match during the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
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Feb. 22, 2025- Luca Brown of Arundel and Glen Burnie's Noah Obinna in the 144 lb. match at the Anne Arundel County wrestling championships at Chesapeake High School.(John Gillis/Freelance)
Crofton sophomore Emily Alvarez unseated Southern’s Piper Henry as 105-pound champ in 18 seconds. North County’s Reese Butler, however, maintained her status as county champion with a 10-4 decision at 155.
Northeast’s 135-pound junior Sophia Hodges was nearly upset, as she trailed Crofton’s Breyon Thompson in the final seconds. Hodges (17-0) used that time to pin her. Adreyana Weitzel (120) and Jaziah Bond (190) brought two more titles to the Eagles via pin and 4-3 decision, respectively.
Alanis Molino joined her teammates in rising to the podium, claiming the 110-pound title with a pin in 1:55. Annapolis’ Liv Goldinger repeated her Queen of the Jungle tournament performance in beating Crofton’s Grace Ackermann for the 115-pound title.
The Cardinals did earn another gold medal behind Nora Kelly, who pinned Chesapeake’s Amber Walker at 130.
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