The Putnam City Lady Pirates wrestling squad had two state champions crowned Feb. 24 at Jim Norick Arena.

Alexis Ahtone won state at 130. Putnam City coach Erin Wood said Ahtone overcame some trouble on bottom at regionals. Ahtone worked on getting better on bottom and she “made it one of her strength at state.” Ahtone beat Glenpool’s Stella Edison by major decision, 8-0.

Tessalynn Goodner won the 190-pound class, pinning Elgin’s Abby Anglley. Goodner won her second state title for the season.  Goodner won the junior high titles the in 2023 and 2024 at 175 pounds.

Two other wrestlers placed at state.

Ryleigh Lefkowitz finished third at 155 by beating Piedmont’s Makaylee Cannon, who beat her at regionals.

Ashley Maldonado finished third at 170, beating Shawnee’s Claudia Thomason. Maldonado ended her season with only three losses.  All three of the losses came Union’s Kali Hayde, the eventual state champion.

Wood is happy with the direction the girls wrestling program is going after its first year having its own coach.

“Girls wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports since getting sanctioned by the OSSAA.  I would have to say that the team’s performance (including our fifth place finish with a program total of nine girls) is a testament to these athletes commitment and determination,” Estep Wood said. “(Putnam City boys head wrestling coach Mike Walkup) has spent many years developing a culture at Putnam City that promotes responsibility, commitment, and the importance of perseverance.  This culture has also been embraced by our Lady Pirates.

“Our job as high school coaches is to develop and prepare these teenagers to be productive adults through lessons learned from competing in athletics.  This group of young ladies made both sides of that job easy by being coachable and hardworking.”