LocalSportsJournal.com

DETROIT — The first female state individual wrestling champions wrote their names into the history books at Detroit’s Ford Field on Saturday.

Wrestling in their own state finals for the first time, the girls drew center stage when they took the mat at the same time the boys were vying for their titles.

Among the first ever female state champions was Montague sophomore Emma Pendell, who prevailed with a narrow 2-1 decision over East Jackson senior Isabel Worthing at 140 pounds.

Pendell split her time between wrestling and basketball last season, and it paid off.

This was the first year the MHSSA conducted individual state finals for the girls alone.

After a first-round bye, Pendell defeated South Lyon freshman Aliyah Schalk by a 5-0 decision and then pinned Warren Mott freshman Libby Dinsmore in 2:24 to reach the finals.