Junior Nina Weinstein is MSMS’s first individual state wrestling champion after dominating her division in the Feb. 14-15 MHSAA Individual Wrestling State Tournament at Ocean Springs.
Weinstein won 10-0 by major decision over Ashley Montufar from Pontotoc High School in the first-place match of the 152-pound weight class. With this victory, Weinstein became the first MSMS student to win an individual wrestling state championship for the school. She is now preparing for a national competition at Virginia Beach, Virginia, scheduled for March 28-30.
“Representing MSMS allowed me to share my appreciation for [the school] and reach prospective students,” Weinstein said. “I feel hopeful my accomplishments will entice and motivate others to do similar things and achieve their goals.”
While recovering from a medial collateral ligament injury early in the season, Weinstein said she used all her coach’s teachings to secure the win against Montufar.
“During the whole match, my coach’s previous instructions raced through my head,” Weinstein said. “I was thinking about [my opponent’s] posture, her moves and moves she could be doing.”
Weinstein said she was ecstatic when she won because of the support from her team and her growth throughout the season.
“I saw my teammates and family cheering for me in the stands, and my coach had the biggest grin on his face,” she said. “I knew at that moment all the hours I spent training and conditioning were all worth it.”
MSMS wrestling coach Jerry Brauer said Weinstein’s finals match was very difficult because of the familiar faces.
“The young lady she faced in the finals was a returning state champion,” he said. “I told Nina — and I’ve told the team since I met them in January — it doesn’t matter who’s standing across the mat from you — you can and will be a champion.”
In other tournament action, juniors Enoch Clardy, Shaw Prewitt and Jayden Wagner participated in the male 157-, 165- and 190-pound weight classes, respectively. Clardy and Wagner each gained 3 points, while Prewitt received 1 point. Although the Frazer team did not place overall, the three wrestlers’ qualifications for the state championship is still an achievement for the team’s inaugural season.
Prewitt acknowledged the challenges of the tournament, but he said he will remain optimistic about the future of MSMS wrestling.
“Did I place as high as I wanted to? No, but I learned a lot, which is really the only thing that matters,” he said.
Clardy said he feels proud of the challenges the team endured, resulting in a successful first year of wrestling at MSMS.
“I feel like I had a very good season,” Clardy said. “I was proud of myself.”
Following the state championship, Prewitt said he will start a wrestling club to practice outside the season.
“We’re going to start the club here, the MSMS Blue Waves Wrestling Club, which I hope other kids join,” he said.
Even though he did not win a championship, Wagner said the season was a success because the team qualified for the state competition.
“Shaw and I created a program that didn’t exist before this and came out with four state qualifiers and a state champion who’s never wrestled before. While I didn’t have the placement I wanted at state, it won’t matter in the legacy we leave behind,” Wagner said.
