Cylie Couch earns 6th-place finish, All-Ohio status
Cylie Couch did something no West Holmes female athlete has done before, garnering All-Ohio status by placing sixth at the 2022 Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association Girls State Championship Tournament.
West Holmes High School junior wrestler Cylie Couch ended her 2022 Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association Girls State Championship Tournament with a sixth-place finish and All-Ohio recognition in the event held Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19 and 20 at Hilliard Davidson High School in Hilliard, Ohio.
“Cylie took her experience from last year and used it to improve this year,” Knights wrestling head coach said of his now state placer and two-time girls state qualifier.
Couch last season went 0-2 in her first appearance at the girls state tournament. “She’s a totally different wrestler than she was last year,” coach Vaughn said. “We are all super proud of how she competes and how she’s done this year.”
Couch, who wrestles at 105 pounds, lost her championship semifinals match by fall on Sunday to eventual state runner-up Chelsea Horsley of Bellefontaine and then suffered two more defeats by fall in the consolation rounds to earn the sixth-place finish and All-Ohio status.
“I guess you could say Cylie met some girls that were on the next level,” Vaughn said of her tough second day. “She has her sights set to reach that level.”
On Saturday Couch (2-3, one fall) scored a fall win in her first round over Isabelle Lewis of Miami East and then pocketed a tight quarterfinals decision victory over Cecelia Reitter of Columbus Academy to move into Sunday’s championship semifinals and a shot at that elusive state championship.
Couch earns second trip to OHSWCA girls state tournament
One week prior to her state appearance, Couch captured the individual title on Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association Girls State Championship Northeast Ohio District Qualifier held at Lutheran West High School in Rocky River, Ohio.
Couch dominated her weight class, posting a 3-0 mark, all her wins by fall, to punch her ticket to the OHSWCA Girls State Championship Tournament. Couch made her second appearance in the girls state tournament after qualifying her freshman season. The tournament was not held in 2021 due to COVID-19.
“What a great tournament (and weekend) for Cylie,” Vaughn said. “She continues to get more and more confident. She dominated all three of her opponents today. Her technique was clean, and she wrestled always moving forward. She is now a two-time state qualifier. Now her goal is to get on that podium. I am really proud of how she’s competed and her performance today.”
Couch opened with a bye, then scored her first two fall wins, moving her into the championship match where she stuck Lillian Pulka of Marlington at the 4:46 mark to sew up her title and trip to the girls state tournament.