Girls high school wrestling may not have a CIAC-sponsored championship event, but that hasn’t stopped girls in the state from attaining national recognition.
Ella Nichols, who just completed her freshman year at Bristol Eastern, earned her way into the national rankings for the first time this season. Nichols ranked 14th at 144 pounds in the final rankings of the season issued, according to a story by Gerry deSimas of Connecticut Wrestling Online. The rankings are put together in a combined effort by USA Wrestling, FloWrestling and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Nichols earned a spot on the Pan-American team at the Cadet level as well.
Nichols, who wrestles with KT Kidz Wrestling of Rocky Hill outside of high school, competed in several prestigious tournaments, including the National High School Coaches Association nationals from March 29-31. Nichols won her first bout of the tournament at 136 pounds by pin. After she lost a 3-1 decision, Nichols ran off a 7-1 victory in her first consolation bracket bout. Nichols lost her next consolation bout 4-2, but scored an 11-2 major decision in the seventh place bout to earn NHSCA All-America recognition.
Nichols also competed in the women’s national tournament in Irving, Texas, in May. She finished second in the United World Wrestling Cadet division at 65 kilograms (about 143 pounds) and third in the UWW Under 15 division at 66 kilograms (about 145 pounds).
In the Cadet division, Nichols scored a victory by technical superiority (11-0) in her first bout, then claimed her second bout with a victory by points (2-1). Nichols won her quarterfinal via technical superiority (12-2), then rolled to a victory by fall in 21 seconds in the semifinal round. Nichols lost the championship final by points, 2-0.
In the UWW Under 15 division, Nichols started out with a victory by fall in 1:33. It took Nichols just 27 seconds to secure a victory by fall in the quarterfinal round. Nichols lost by fall in the championship semifinal, but rebounded with a victory by fall in 3:44 in her consolation semifinal bout. In the third place bout, Nichols took a victory by points, 3-1. Ironically, Nichols faced a fellow Connecticut wrestler, Plainville’s Dakota-Marie Dinielli, in the third place bout.
