CINCINNATI — Harrison freshman Chloe Dearwester and Norwood senior Lizbeth Banderas won state titles at the second Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association girls state tournament at Hilliard Davidson this past weekend.
Dearwester won her state title on Feb. 20 and Banderas won Feb. 21.
Dearwester's win made her the first girls wrestling state champion in Greater Cincinnati history, according to the Harrison athletic department.
"Chloe Dearwater is the definition of a trailblazer," Harrison athletic director Mark Meibers said. "She is a pioneer for girls wrestling in the state of Ohio. She lives out our district's four core values of trust, respect, ownership and leadership when it comes to being a student-athlete at Harrison High School. Her drive and work ethic is unmatched. We are happy for Chloe and her achievement of becoming a state champ."
She defeated Bellefontaine's Chelsea Horsley to win the state title on Saturday and complete a memorable season for Harrison. The Wildcats finished fifth in the state tournament standings.
Dearwester had a near-perfect season, dominating the bracket on Saturday, according to the Harrison athletic department.
"She had four pins in four matches, with the last one occurring in her state title match over the returning state champ in the first period," the Harrison athletic department wrote. "Chloe is the very first girls wrestling state champ in Harrison High School and Cincinnati history."
After being the district runner-up earlier this month, Banderas earned the championship among 15 other wrestlers who competed in her 143-pound weight class.
She defeated Fairfield's Marissa Meyer in the championship match.
"We are so proud of Lizbeth and everything she has done to reach the pinnacle of wrestling in Ohio," the Norwood athletics page wrote.
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Information and details on Norwood's ceremony to honor her state championship will be released soon, according to the school.
Banderas completed her high school wrestling career with two state place finishes, including fourth place in 2020 and a state title in 2021.
She is the first individual state champion at the school since Chad Kincaid in 1996 (track and field) and fourth individual state champion in Norwood history, according to the Norwood athletic department.
She follows Mike Marksbury (1973 in shot put), Kincaid (1995 cross country and 1996 in track) as well as the 1936 baseball team.
