Rockbridge County High School wrestler Tasha Shorter concluded an impressive sophomore season by going 2-2 at 152-pounds at the Virginia High School League Girls State Open Championships on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Glen Allen.
Although this was the fourth girls' state tournament, with girls from all six school classifications wrestling, this was the first season that girls wrestling has been sanctioned by the Virginia High School League as an official, separate sport.
Shorter, who went 1-2 at the state tournament as a freshman, came into this week’s state tournament on a roll after winning the Zone 4 Qualifier held Feb. 15 and 16 at Franklin County High School in Rocky Mount.
In the first round, Shorter pinned Woodbridge Senior’s Stephany Ponce in 4:50. Shorter then faced Goochland’s Ella Adamson in the quarterfinals and was pinned in 3:32.
Shorter bounced back in the consolation bracket by pinning Prince George’s Camilla Moses in 2:33. She then saw her season come to a close when Lebanon’s Hazel Garrett, the fourth-place finisher, defeated her in a 10-8 decision.
Coached by Kage Tomlin and Avari Johnson as the lone female RC wrestler this year, Shorter finished the season with a record of 19-4, winning her first three tournaments of the season, as well as the Zone 4 Qualifier.
For the full story, please see our March 4 newspaper.
