By Pat Dailey (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Ellie Higginbotham is thrilled to join 2023 Willard grad Catherine Dutton as the only state champions for the Lady Tigers.
Higginbotham (41-2) took the 155-pound championship as a sophomore by downing Dana Thee Sanchez, of Francis Howell Central, 4-2 in their title tilt.
Higginbotham was in eighth grade when Dutton was a senior and hasn’t forgotten the impact she had on her.
“I was their manager for a little bit and was able to build a bond with her and (know) what she’s doing and how she was doing it,” Higginbotham said. “Everything she was doing I’m doing now.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TOURNAMENT
Higginbotham avenged a loss to Thee Sanchez at The Wonder Woman a year ago.
“Even though she beat me, I knew that was last season and this season I’m a totally different wrestler,” Higginbotham said. “I didn’t necessarily have the revenge factor. I just knew I put in so much work that, ‘This match is my match.’
“She came out strong and has heavy hands,” Higginbotham added. “I was able to weather the storm and make sure I was able to compete to my full abilities. I started hand-fighting. I knew to get to my offense and defense I needed to be the bully in the match.”
Higginbotham is thankful for her experience with Team USA at an event in Bahrain last fall.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE TOURNAMENT
“I learned a lot about my mentality. My standards were raised for myself,” she said. “This is right along with the plan. The ultimate goal is to be as many times a state champ as I can be, if that means one time or three times.”
CLASS 2 GIRLS MEDALISTS
1st – 110 – Abigail Fuglsang, Camdenton (46-0)
1st – 115 – Jessa Joiner, Lebanon (44-1)
1st – 125 – Addison Harkins, Nixa (42-2)
1st – 155 – Ellie Higginbotham, Willard (41-2)
2nd – 170 – Calyese Dupree, Nixa (27-1)
2nd – 115 – Alyssa Salemie, Branson (40-4)
2nd – 130 – Kaylee James, Carthage (39-2)
3rd – 235 – Sophiea Quinn, Lebanon (43-4)
3rd – 170 – Emily Brixey, Willard (31-8)
3rd – 190 – Yisel Perez, Waynesville (41-5)
3rd – 130 – Adia Hull, Willard (41-10)
4th – 190 – Jessie Nelson, Nixa (32-13)
4th – 100 – Hanna Egley, Nixa (32-10)
4th – 105 – Ashton Mayes, Nixa (34-9)
4th – 140 – Irish Lee, Carthage (31-12)
4th – 145 – Kamryn Bourbon, Nixa (40-5)
5th – 120 – Dakota Nix, Waynesville (35-7)
6th – 135 – Addison Brown, Waynesville (34-11)
6th – 140 – Ava Frye, Nixa (26-7)
6th – 190 – Harmony Moore, Willard (29-14)
