By Jack Walkden

PORTAGE — Maddison Ward will get a chance at becoming a repeat state wrestling champ.

Ward won a state title last year at Brandywine. And after transferring to Niles this year, she has been dominant so far in the past seasons. Running her record to 27-0, Ward earned two pins and then scored a 21-6 technical fall over MacKenzie Maka of Allegan in the 155-pound championship match at the Division 2 girls individual regional wrestling championships Sunday at Portage Northern.

In six postseason matches so far, Ward has posted four pins and two technical falls.

One other area wrestler reached the championship match. Dowagiac’s Cinthia Villegas (27-7) lost a 13-0 major decision to Harleigh Toepfer of Portage Northern at 145 pounds.

Two other area girls qualified for state with Buchanan’s Kadence Ashe (23-6) and Niles’ Kloe Kiggins (26-9) each finishing fourth at 135 and 115, respectively.

DIVISION 2

At Portage Northern

Quarterfinals

110: Jocelyn Saucedo (South Haven) p. Alexandra Jijon (Dowagiac) 1:03.

115: Desarae Mathis (Hastings) p. Kloe Kiggins (Niles) 1:51.

135: Kadence Ashe (Buchanan) p. Amber Knight (South Haven) 1:20.

145: Cinthia Villegas (Dowagiac) p. Addison Gregory (Otsego) :51.

155: Maddison Ward (Niles) p. Peyton Federau (Lakewood) :39.

Consolation Round 1

110: Ariel Crawley (Bellevue) t.f. over Alexandra Jijon (Dowagiac) 17-2.

115: Kloe Kiggins (Niles) p. Sailor Diehl (Gull Lake) 1:45.

Semifinals

135: Dawn DeGood (Allegan) d. Kadence Ashe (Buchanan) 7-3.

145: Cinthia Villegas (Dowagiac) p. Naomi Grummet (Hastings) 3:14.

155: Maddison Ward (Niles) p. Kady Sherrill (Paw Paw) 3:31.

Consolation Semifinals

115: Kloe Kiggins (Niles) d. Sarah Bennett (St. Joseph) 13-10.

135: Kadence Ashe (Buchanan) p. Addison Lynch (River Valley) 1:22.

First Place

145: Harleigh Toepfer (Portage Northern) m.d. over Cinthia Villegas (Dowagiac) 13-0.

155: Maddison Ward (Niles) t.f. over Mackenzie Maka (Allendale) 21-6.

Third Place

115: Emma Baker (Lakeshore p. Kloe Kiggins (Niles) 1:28.

135: Samantha Bonoevetz (Otsego) p. Kadence Ashe (Buchanan) 1:25.

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