Spartanburg Herald-Journal

Anderson said it was never in doubt. At no point did the fans that packed the Anderson Civic Center think it wouldn't happen.

June Welch shook hands with Chester's Eduardo De Paz in the state championship final of the 106-pound weight class.

She became the first female to win an individual wrestling state championship when she dominated De Paz throughout and then won by pin with seven seconds remaining in the match.

Woodruff's June Welch beat Chester's Eduardo De Paz in the Class 3A 106 weightduring the State High School Wrestling Individual Championships in Anderson, S.C. Saturday, February 26, 2022. Welch became the first female wrestler to win a state title in South Carolina High School Wrestling.
Woodruff's June Welch beat Chester's Eduardo De Paz in the Class 3A 106 weightduring the State High School Wrestling Individual Championships in Anderson, S.C. Saturday, February 26, 2022. Welch became the first female wrestler to win a state title in South Carolina High School Wrestling.

After the official slapped the mat, an immediate standing ovation ensued as she joined an elite group of one the Palmetto State's finest wrestlers.

The historical statement that girls should not wrestle boys was responded to emphatically by Welch.

She said that they can. When we arrived, I wanted to win the whole thing. Winning my semifinal match made me want to win more.

The wrestling room at Eastside has a deeper meaning to a wall.

JohnHarper said that he was not surprised by the victory.

A lot of people look at a girl wrestling a guy as a girl wrestling a guy. She puts in the work and approaches it like any other sport, she wants to get better and she wants to improve. We were very confident that she was the best if she wrestled technically sound wrestling.

Woodruff's June Welch beat Chester's Eduardo De Paz in the Class 3A 106 weightduring the State High School Wrestling Individual Championships in Anderson, S.C. Saturday, February 26, 2022. Welch became the first female wrestler to win a state title in South Carolina High School Wrestling.
Woodruff's June Welch beat Chester's Eduardo De Paz in the Class 3A 106 weightduring the State High School Wrestling Individual Championships in Anderson, S.C. Saturday, February 26, 2022. Welch became the first female wrestler to win a state title in South Carolina High School Wrestling.

It's even more impressive that De Paz pinned Welch in the final of the Upper State Tournament a week ago. Saturday's final match was a 15-2 win for Welch.

He hoped that the win would lead to girls wrestling being a sport in South Carolina.

These girls are wrestlers and it is a great thing for them. All of the girls are good wrestlers. They all work hard. They just want to get better. I like to coach kids that enjoy getting better.

When she was in the fifth grade, she began wrestling and has a background in martial arts.

Wrestling helped me with my submissions in jiu jitsu.

The freshman did not qualify for the state tournament. She said that she trained more in the wrestling room.

I'm happy that I won.

She wants to wrestle at an upcoming national tournament and repeat as a state champion.

She had no immediate plan to wrestle in college despite the advent of women wrestling. She is happy that she won a state championship.

She could make history if she changed her mind about her future plans.

She already has.

June Welch became the first female state champion in the state of South Carolina.

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