The Missouri Class 2 girls state wrestling championships concluded this weekend at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, crowning a new generation of champions and delivering standout performances from across the state. While Nixa edged out Willard for the team title with 122.5 points to the Tigers' 114, local athletes from Carthage and Webb City made their mark in the competition, highlighted by a historic individual title and a hard-fought podium finish.
The spotlight shone brightest on Carthage sophomore Kaylee James at 140 pounds. With a near-perfect 51-1 record entering the finals, James dominated her championship bout against Staley junior Ja’Ziya Miles, securing a commanding 16-3 major decision victory. The win etched James into program history as the first girls wrestler from Carthage High School to claim a Missouri state championship.
James, fueled by a runner-up finish at state the previous year, controlled the match from the outset with strong takedowns, relentless pressure, and superior positioning. Her performance capped a breakout tournament that included key wins en route to the title.
It's a huge milestone for our program, James said in post-match comments reported by local outlets. Being the first feels great, but it's about the work and the team behind me.
Carthage finished 23rd in the team standings with 16 points, largely on the strength of James' championship run.
Webb City also had a representative on the podium in the heavyweight division. Junior Mackenzie Booth (33-12) advanced to the consolation matches and secured sixth place at 235 pounds. In the fifth-place match, Booth fell to Gwen Hillermann of Washington by fall at 3:31, but her sixth-place finish contributed to Webb City's 21 team points and a 17th-place overall ranking.
Booth showed resilience throughout the bracket, including a quick fall win earlier in the tournament, but faced tough competition in the upper weights where pins and major decisions often decided outcomes.
The Class 2 finals featured several dominant performances, including undefeated champions like Liberty's Alexis Stinson at 235 (fall in 1:13) and Republic freshman Mabel Rogers at 115 (technical fall 16-0). Other notable title matches saw pins, major decisions, and decisions across the weight classes, underscoring the growing depth of girls wrestling in Missouri.
For Carthage and Webb City programs, the event marked continued progress in a sport still building momentum in southwest Missouri. James' breakthrough title provides inspiration for younger wrestlers in the area, while Booth's medal adds to Webb City's emerging presence on the state stage.
With the season now complete, attention turns to offseason training and the promise of even stronger showings in 2027.