Five Bulldogs Punch Tickets to State: Daugherty and Green Lead the Charge

ELLENSBURG, WA — The Ellensburg Girls Wrestling team put on a clinical display of toughness and technique at the WIAA District 5 2A Championships this past weekend. When the dust settled, five Bulldogs secured their spots on the podium and, more importantly, earned their trips to the State Championship by finishing in the top five of their respective weight classes.

Leading the way for Ellensburg were standouts Keetin Daugherty and Karsyn Green, both of whom battled through grueling brackets to claim third-place finishes.

Dominant Bronzes: Daugherty and Green

At 115 lbs, Keetin Daugherty was a force for the Bulldogs, racking up a team-high 21.5 points. After a tough loss in the semifinals, Daugherty showed incredible mental fortitude. She stormed back in the consolation bracket with a dominant 17-0 technical fall before pinning Othello’s Yaritzi Flores in under two minutes (1:57) to secure the bronze.

Matching that intensity at 145 lbs, Karsyn Green proved why she is a cornerstone of this roster. Green fought through a narrow 1-0 decision loss in the semifinals—a heartbreaking margin that would have broken many—but she responded with back-to-back pins. She capped her tournament by flattening Prosser’s Taya Wilkinson in 2:23 to clinch her third-place medal and her ticket to State.

The State-Bound Five

While Daugherty and Green led the scoring, the Bulldogs showed depth throughout the upper weights to ensure a strong Ellensburg contingent will be traveling to the state tournament:

• Keetin Daugherty (115 lbs): 3rd Place
• Karsyn Green (145 lbs): 3rd Place
• Chloe Stewart (125 lbs): 5th Place – Stewart fought through a massive bracket, winning three matches by fall, including a pin in her final match to secure her spot.
• Darla Perry (155 lbs): 5th Place – Perry displayed veteran poise, winning her 5th-place match with a second-period fall.
• Norah Joyce (170 lbs): 5th Place – A pinning machine, Joyce recorded four falls during the tournament, including a 23-second blast in the consolation rounds.

Team Contributions

The Bulldogs also saw strong efforts from Lily Collins (105) and Piper Magruder (135), both of whom scored two pins each to help the team’s overall standings. Chloie Biddle (110) and Olivia Santoyo (170) also added points to the board with opening-round pins, contributing to a total team effort that defined the weekend.

With five wrestlers moving on, the Bulldogs now turn their focus to the Tacoma Dome, carrying the momentum of a successful District run into podium-level efforts this week leading up to the WIAA Mat Classic. CLICK HERE for more information about WIAA State Wrestling.