Pac Coast girls wrestling: Prairie's Faith Tarrant captures her 100th career victory (original) (raw)

News / Sports / Prep Sports

Title at 235 pounds came after a battle from Madisyn Cardens of Skyview

By Tim Martinez, Columbian Assistant Sports Editor

Published: December 28, 2024, 10:46pm

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Faith Tarrant of Prairie holds up a sign celebrating her 100th career victory after winning the 235-pound girls title at the Pac Coast Championships wrestling tournament at the Clark County Events Center in Ridgefield on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Tim Martinez/The Columbian) Photo Gallery

RIDGEFIELD — Faith Tarrant came to the Pac Coast Championships in search of her 100th career victory.

What she didn’t expect was to be trailing in the third period of the championship match.

Yet, the Prairie senior and three-time state pinned Madisyn Cardens of Skyview at 4:41, erasing a 4-1 deficit and improving her high school career record to 100-0.

“It’s crazy,” Tarrant said on notching her 100th win. “Coming in freshman year, I didn’t know that I would accomplish this, so I’m very excited.”

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Pac Coast Championships wrestlingPhoto Gallery

Tarrant was a little concerned after Cardens scored a rare takedown of Tarrant in the second period to take a 4-1 lead into the third period.

But the senior regrouped to take down Cardens and then pin her for the win.

“At first it was kind of like, in my head I’m like ‘Oh it’s my 100th win’ so I’m already super nervous,” Tarrant said. “And being down, I was like ‘Oh, this can’t be happening, you know.’ Then I kind of had to have a moment of realization that I know what I’m capable of. I’ve been here before. It’s been a long time, but it’s not something I’m unfamiliar with. … In my head, it was the person who wants this the most is going to win. And I was like ‘I really want to win. I really want this.’ So that was awesome.”

Tarrant gave credit to Cardens for pushing her.

“She’s an amazing wrestling,” Tarrant said. “I love her to death on and off the mat. I had fun. I don’t usually get to scrap like that, so it was fun for me. I really enjoyed it.”

Tarrant was one of five local champions in the girls brackets at the Pac Coast Championships.

Janessa O’Connell battled back from offseason elbow surgery to win the 140-pound title, pinning Melanie Novak of Hudson’s Bay in 1:34.

Aliyha Vargas of Washougal also won by pinning at 145 pounds, beating Annika Theumer of South Kitsap in 1:55.

Couly McReynolds of Woodland pinned Tayla Abundis of South Kitsap in 3:01 to win the 120-pound title, and Kadence Neumeyer of Castle Rock won by pin over Valkyrie Shambry of Oregon City in 2:23 at 125 pounds.

Lorelie Brown of Battle Ground (110), Jersey O’Neill of Columbia River (115) and Avery Vega Padilla of Camas (190) earned runner-up finishes.