Shelbyville High School’s Pacey Virden will wrestle for a state title Friday at Mooresville High School.
Virden, who finished runner-up at 195 pounds at the Warren Central Regional, is one of 16 girls chasing a state title in the 195-pound bracket at the Indiana High School Girls Wrestling 2023 State Finals.
In her first year wrestling, Virden stunned the No. 1 seed in her opening match at the regional to advance. She pinned Hamilton Southeastern’s Fanta Sall in 91 seconds.
In her second match, Virden pinned North Central’s Ja’Leese Taylor in 49 seconds (main photo) to get her into the championship match.
Southport’s Leah Soots pinned Virden in the championship match and will be in the opposite side of the bracket at the state finals.
Virden will face Penn’s Giuliana Reed in the round of 16 Friday. With a win, she would face either Kyndal Mellady of Western or Harlie Winningham of Jennings County in the round of 8.
Girls wrestling is categorized as an “emerging sport” by the Indiana High School Athletic Association. If the sport continues to grow, it will become a recognized sport under the IHSAA banner.
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