3 central Ohio girls wrestlers win OHSAA state championships

Lamar Jackson will reportedly miss 6-9 weeks

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3 central Ohio girls wrestlers win OHSAA state championships

Dave Purpura, Columbus Dispatch · The Columbus Dispatch

Mon, Mar 16, 2026 ·

3 min read

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Perhaps not realizing the moment was all about her, Olentangy Orange junior Mackenzie Carder apologized for her subdued reaction to winning the 120-pound championship in the girls wrestling state tournament March 15.

"I'm more of like a 'process stuff later' kind of person," Carder said. "Maybe I need to work on that, but I am really excited.

"I was extremely excited, really excited. I am very happy. I'm not much of a dancing kind of person. It's not really my thing."

Olentangy Orange's Mackenzie Carder defeated Marysville's Cami Leng 14-4 in the 120-pound final of the girls wrestling state tournament March 15 at the Schottenstein Center.

Carder finally stood atop the podium at the Schottenstein Center after two years as a runner-up, dominating throughout a 14-4 win over Marysville junior Cami Leng, a close friend and frequent sparring partner.

State runner-up at 120 last year and 110 as a freshman, Carder (46-2) spread four takedowns throughout the match, recording one each in the first and second periods and two more in the third.

Carder went 4-0 this season against Leng. Her only losses this season were to nationally ranked Marlee Solomon of Canonsburg (Pennsylvania) Canon-McMillan. Solomon won her state's 118 championship last weekend.

"The difference with [Carder] this year is she has really kept a peaceful mind with her match prep, especially in the last month," Orange coach Brian Nicola said. "She spent today just kind of relaxing and getting her mind right."

Orange fell short of a third straight team championship, finishing third (70.5) behind Massillon Perry (83) and Harrison (71.5).

The Pioneers got other podium finishes from senior Lacie Knick (130, third) and freshmen Tara Davis (145, fifth) and Tamia Davis (155, seventh).

Marysville was fourth (59) and Gahanna Lincoln, led by 155 champion KyLee Tibbs , was fifth (47.5).

Gahanna Lincoln's KyLee Tibbs celebrates her state title at 155 pounds.

Tibbs (44-2) roared back from a 3-1 first-period deficit to pin Archbold's Vivienne Legato in 2:42. The junior won at 140 last year, was runner-up in that class as a freshman and is 130-6 for her career.

"That feeling was amazing, I think because of the pressure I felt the entire season to bring it home again," Tibbs said. "Last year I was coming back from a second-place finish and that drove me. This year, the pressure drove me. I got the pin and it was great. It was amazing."

Central Ohio's other championship came from Mount Vernon junior Ashlynn Brokaw , who won a 13-4 major decision over Vincent Warren's Emma Gorrell in the 110 final. Brokaw won at 105 as a sophomore and was third in that class as a freshman.