Pawhuska establishes girls wrestling program

Austin Legg, wrestling coach for Pawhuska Public Schools, said the school district is proud to to announce its official girls wrestling team this season.

With some already tough and top wrestlers in the state among them, these girls will compete on Feb. 8 in Broken Arrow at their first regional tournament to determine who goes on to the state tournament at the Oklahoma City fairgrounds on Feb. 25, Legg said.

"It's one of the fastest-growing sports in high school athletics," Legg said.

Two of his female wrestlers -- sisters Marion and Landon McCartney -- were state tournament qualifiers a year ago, and Landon McCartney was a state tournament placer. Marion and Landon competed in the state tournament in early 2020 along with their brother, Tristian McCartney, who graduated in 2020.

Legg said this season's high school lineup of female wrestlers incluldes: at 106 pounds, freshman Lilli McCann; at 112 pounds, senior Landon McCartney; at 118 pounds, sophomore Marion McCartney; at 147 pounds, senior Tennessee McCartney; and at 215 pounds, freshman Madison Martin. In the junior high ranks, Kelci Avallone, at 98 pounds, and Kylee Avallone, at 115 pounds, are on their way up.