SCMAT Exclusive Wrestling Article 3-8-22

International Women's Day 2022 - Tuesday, March 8 ...

... celebrating June Welch of Woodruff

June Welch (Woodruff) recently made history at the Anderson Civic Center as she became the first female wrestler in South Carolina to win an SCHSL Individual Wrestling State Championship - achieving a Gold in Class 3A at 106-pounds.

In January, Welch won her weight class at the SC Girls State Wrestling Championships, as part of the Carolina Invitational.

June Welch of Woodruff

June Welch (Woodruff) State Finals

June Welch (Woodruff) State Finals

June Welch (Woodruff) State Finals

June Welch (Woodruff) State Finals

June Welch (Woodruff) State Finals

June Welch (Woodruff) State Finals

With Tuesday March 8 being International Women's Day 2022, SCMAT would like to celebrate the accomplishment of June Welch of Woodruff High School.

June Welch (Woodruff wrestling) made SC wrestling history, becoming the first female to win the SCHSL State Wrestling Tournament!

Welch was 3-0 on February 26 and placed 1st in 3A State at 106 lbs., congratulations June!

The 2022 SCHSL State Wrestling Tournament saw 3 females qualify for State, now a record in SC! --- Jesse Kemp (James Island), Zao Estrada (Hilton Head) and June Welch (Woodruff).

At the 2021 SCHSL State Wrestling Tournament, Zao Estrada (Hilton Head) set a new record, becoming the first female to Medal at SCHSL State, earning a 3rd place finish at 106 lbs. In 2022, Estrada would continue her SCHSL success placing 4th at 113 lbs. for 4A Hilton Head.

And June Welch would gain her own Medal - with technique, strength and confidence - and a Gold!

June is a sophomore at Woodruff High School and she quickly became a National role model for female wrestling. The news of Welch winning the SC State Wrestling Tournament was on newswires across the country.

She started in Jiu-Jitsu, while living in Virginia with her family. June quickly crossed over to the sport of wrestling and found it suited her best. Her family moved to SC and she quickly adapted to high school varsity wrestling at Woodruff.

Coach John Harper of Woodruff, recently shared with SCMAT that "June is instilled with a competitive drive and goal setting. She is always at the top of varsity workouts with her conditioning. June puts forth her best effort in sports and academics."

To further celebrate her contributions to the team, Welch's wrestling partner in practice - Genaro DeLaGarza, became a state runner-up at 113 lbs.

June Welch was an All-American at the USA WRESTLING GIRLS FOLKSTYLE NATIONALS at Coralville, Iowa - March 28, 2021

Representing South Carolina, as part of ET Wrestling - for "Estrada Trained", June would place 7th at Nationals, earning All-American honors.

Here were the 16U All-American results at 100 lbs. back in March 2021
1st - Ava Ward (BullTrained Wrestling) DEC Juliana Alejandro (Centennial High School Wrestling), 8-1
3rd - Makenize Smith (Indiana Girls Wrestling IGNITES) F Clare Booe (Palm Harbor University High School Wrestling), 3:57
5th - Aspen Blasko (Minnesota Storm) TF Kaylin Taylor (Montana Girls), 16-0 3:46
7th - June Welch (ET Wrestling) F Mikayla Garcia (North Coast Grapplers), 4:32

Here are the results from June Welch's 2022 State Title run:

2022 3A State Tournament - 106 lbs.
June Welch placed 1st and scored 22.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - June Welch (Woodruff) won by decision over Preston Cederquist (Bishop England) (Dec 5-2)
Semifinal - June Welch (Woodruff) won by fall over Malachi Conway (Emerald) (Fall 3:21)
1st Place Match - June Welch (Woodruff) won by fall over Eduardo De Paz (Chester) (Fall 5:43)

Enjoy this great newspaper article, picked up by Yahoo! Sports, as well as several Youtube videos that covered Welch's State Title experience:

Woodruff female wrestler June Welch makes history at state championships - great newspaper article

June Welch Makes Herstory - Youtube video

June Welch- SC State Champion (SCWC) - Youtube video

South Carolina has had many succesful females in wrestling through the years and June can add her name to this list ... these are just a few from the SCMAT recordbooks:
Brieana Delgado (Hillcrest, Oklahoma City University) - Women's Head Wrestling Coach at Central Methodist University
Brittany Delgado (Hillcrest, Oklahoma City University)
Tamika Jones (Ridge View, Yakima Valley Community College)
Genesis Patterson (Dutch Fork)
Briana Jordan (Hartsville, Emmanuel College)
Nikki Weidman (Liberty, Life University) - first SC female wrestler in a State Duals Finals match (2013 and 2014)
Latrell Brewer (Whitmire) - first SC female wrestler to qualify for the SCHSL State Wrestling Tournament - (2019 106 SQ - 2A-1A)
Kyleigh Dean (Aynor) - multiple time All-American and National Champion
Elisha Thaxton (West-Oak) - SC's 2020 Tricia Saunders High School Award winner as awarded by The National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Hannah Mains (Ashley Ridge, Linestone) - All-American at NHSCA Girls High School Nationals and SC's 2021 Tricia Saunders High School Award winner as awarded by The National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Dasia Yearby (Christ Church) - All-American Fargo Nationals
April Kelly (Woodmont) - All-American at NHSCA Girls High School Nationals
Zao Estrada (Hilton Head) - 2x National Champion at USA Wrestling Tournaments and first female to Medal at the SCHSL State Wrestling Tournament
Isabella Hoffman (Fort Mill) - All-American at NHSCA Girls High School Nationals

If SCMAT is missing any names of females that were prior SCHSL State qualifiers, or names to consider adding to the list above, please email scmat@hotmail.com

Congratulations again, June Welch - Coach John Harper - and Woodruff wrestling, on making SC wrestling history!

thanks,

Mark Buford

SCMAT