Southmont’s Moore had been team manager, but filled in at vacant 103-pound class
By Pat McKee
Of the nearly 1,800 athletes who will compete in the high school individual wrestling regionals Saturday, Southmont High School freshman Haleigh Moore stands apart.
Moore, who finished fourth in the 103-pound weight class at the Crawfordsville Sectional, is believed to be the only girl to advance to the second level of the state tournament series. She will face Zionsville sophomore Tyler Mantel in the opening round of the North Montgomery Regional.
“I’m really excited and nervous, but mostly I’m focused on staying off my back, “said Moore, 14, who started the season as a student manager but joined the squad in December because the Mounties weren’t fielding a 103-pounder. “I just wanted to help the team because we didn’t have anybody in that spot.”
Southmont coach Jamie Welliever said he at first was skeptical about Moore taking the mat. But after talking to her father, Jeff, who was the coach’s teammate in the 1980s and who helps coach the current team, Welliever agreed to give Moore a shot.
Success wasn’t immediate, but Moore has shown significant improvement and takes a 7-12 record into the regional.
“I’ve improved a ton, and it’s a lot different than just watching, “Moore said. “(From the sidelines), you think you know what’s going on, but you really don’t. I thought I knew moves before, but I really didn’t.”
Moore said she has enjoyed competing and hopes to continue next year.
“There have been a few jokes, but mostly everybody’s been nice and supportive, “she said. “A few times it’s been funny to see the expression of my opponents. Sometimes you can tell they’re nervous to be going against a girl. Other times, they’re getting ready for just another opponent.”
Welliever, in his 20th season as coach, said Moore has earned respect and become a true member of the team.
“She’s won some big matches for herself and our team, “Welliever said. “At our (Sagamore) conference meet, she won her third-place match in overtime and we won the title by 51/2 points, so she’s been very important.
“All along, she’s worked hard, done all the running and all the things like anyone else in practice. And it says a lot about her when you realize that she qualified for the regional by beating someone whom she had lost to earlier.”
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