BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

CORBIN — Kenleigh Estep won a Kentucky state championship Feb. 8 at Corbin Arena, becoming the first middle school girl from Martin County to claim a state wrestling title.

Estep captured the middle school 95-pound division at the 2026 KFWC Middle School & Youth Girls State Tournament, finishing three of her final matches by fall.

She pinned Amarah Bell of Moore in 48 seconds in the quarterfinals, then advanced with a 1:05 fall over Teresa Helm of the Trigg County Wildcats in the semifinals.

In the championship match, Estep secured the title by pinning Esther Wernersbach of the Central Kentucky Wrestling Club in 1:16.

Teammate Kennedy Maynard also earned a medal for Martin County, placing third in the middle school 130-pound division.

Maynard opened her run with a 40-second fall over Sabrina Morris of Calloway County in the round of 16, then moved into the semifinals with a 10-3 decision over Tinley Marcum of the Belfry Wrestling Club.

She fell by pin to Serenity Rivera of Henderson in 35 seconds in the semifinals, dropping into the consolation bracket.

Maynard responded with a 9-5 decision over Aryonna Collins of Woodland Middle School in the consolation semifinals, then secured third place with a 2-0 win over Nevaeh Woods of Mercer County Wrestling.