PUEBLO — It's official, Colorado has a girl's wrestling state champion.
Thursday marked day 1 of the 3-day CHSAA state wrestling championships, with history being made on the girl's side as the first sanctioned state championship.
Out of all the schools that participated at the Southwest Motors Events Center in Pueblo, it was one of the smallest ones that shined the most.
Two Calhan Bulldogs took home 1st place trophies in freshman Ciara Monger (215) and sophomore Taylor Knox (185), places third in team standings.
"It’s amazing," explained Monger after receiving the 1st place trophy. "We come from a very small school. Like you can do anything you put your mind to. It’s just unbelievable what you could do by yourself and what you can achieve. I just wanted to go ahead and try my hardest, that’s all I cared about. Not giving up and going out there to compete."
"Since this year is the first year for girls, it is incredible that I am the first one to win at my weight class," added Knox after her match. "This is the best thing in my life. It was my whole dream to be here on Wednesday. And now that I did it, it was awesome. I hope this puts us on the map for other big 5A schools as we only have one state champion at our whole school. So now we just got two in the same day, so it’s pretty great."
In the 127-pound weight class, Doherty's Sarah Savidge fell Savannah Cosme for the third time this season in a 9-3 decision.
Palmer Ridge's Aspen Barber got off to a great start in her match-up with Kierstin Myers of Olathe. In the end, it was Myers who would claim the 147-pound weight class in a 10-6 decision.
And in the 111-pound weight class, Mesa Ridge's Isabella Cross fell to Israel Resendez by pin.
Day 2 of the tournament will feature the boy's side from the 2A & 3A classifications.
