Kentwood’s Sarah Wright goes undefeated at girls wrestling meet

The Kentwood Conquerors and the Kentridge Chargers girls wrestling teams competed in the second-to-last league meet this season on Jan. 19. The meet took place at Decatur High School and involved a total of four other schools.

Of the 13 weight classes that competed on Thursday, the Kent schools competed in five of them. Kentwood was the only school to register a winner on the evening, Janice Clemons and 2022 state competitor Sarah Wright.

Clemons won her opening match at 170-pounds, but dropped her following match. Wright won both matches during the competition, winning by technical fall in the second round and a first-round pin in her second match.

“My first matches are always a little rusty, but by my second match I am locked in,” Wright said.

Kentwood was undefeated against the host Decatur, but went 1-3 against Federal Way. Kentridge fell in every match, losing to Kennedy Catholic twice and once time to both Federal Way and Mount Rainier.

Sarah Wright was the only undefeated wrestler for any Kent school during the meet. She is destined to make another run at the state tournament and has the work ethic to make it happen.

“In practice, I am pushing myself until I am about to pass out,” Wright said. She said she’s grateful for the seniors who helped her last year, but now she has to take the steps to be the leader the team needs this season.

“I know I have to look like a leader and take charge so I have to be pushing myself that hard. Because if I am not working, I know someone else will be while I am resting,” she said. “So I want to work as hard as I can when I do.”

Kentwood, Kentridge, Kent Meridian and Kentlake compete against each other beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 at Kentwood High School.