BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

LEXINGTON — Martin County High School wrestler Kenleigh Estep made history Saturday in the KHSAA Girls State Wrestling Tournament at Alltech Arena in Lexington. The seventh-grader finished fourth in the state in the 100-pound weight class, becoming the first female from Martin County to place in the state tournament.

Estep opened her tournament run with a pin of Loralei Nelson of Harrison County High School in 3:44. She followed with an 11-4 decision over Kaylee McKown of Bardstown High School in the quarterfinals, then fell by pin to Madyson Votaw of Nelson County High School.

Estep rebounded in the consolation semifinals. She edged Madison Leonard of Central Hardin High School by an 8-7 decision.

Her run ended in the third-place match as she fell by pin to Brielle Richardson of Madison Central, earning a fourth-place finish and a spot on the podium.

Eighth-grader Kennedy Maynard also qualified at 126 pounds. She began her tournament with a first-round pin of London Mosley of Woodford County High School in 2:23, before falling to Talynn Clark of Ohio County and Avah Hammons of Corbin.