Louderback, Ladd fight for spot on podium at girls state wrestling tournament

February 24, 2023 - Bloomington, Illinois - 
Edwardsville's Holly Zugmaier wrestles Camp Point Central's Amber Louderback (right) during their 125-pound match at the 2023 IHSA Girls Individual Wrestling State Finals on Friday. Louderback advanced to the quarterfinals after a 7-5 decision. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Central's Amber Louderback, right, battles Edwardsville's Holly Zugmaier in their first-round match Friday at the Illinois girls state wrestling tournament in Bloomington, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Central’s Amber Louderback and Macomb’s Kelly Ladd are each a victory away from reaching the podium at the Illinois girls state wrestling tournament.

Louderback, at 125 pounds, and Ladd, at 135 pounds, both lost in the quarterfinals of their respective weight classes Friday, but rebounded for a victory in the wrestlebacks and will battle for a spot in the consolation semifinals Saturday morning.

Louderback, a freshman, opened with a 7-5 victory over Edwardsville’s Holly Zugmaier before getting pinned in the quarterfinals in 2:45 by Ava Babbs. Louderback rebounded with a 14-2 major decision over Thornton’s Destiny Bright.

She will wrestle Huntley’s Aubrie Rohrbacher in the wrestlebacks.

Ladd opened with a pin of Vandalia’s Lauren Dothager in 3:58 before suffering a 22-6 technical fall to Conant senior Mannie Anderson in the quarterfinals. She rebounded by pinning Auburn’s Jadyn Perry in 1:01.

Ladd, a sophomore, will face Kankakee’s Makayla Jones in the wrestlebacks.

Central’s Amber Louderback is declared winner after her first-round match against Edwardsville’s Holly Zugmaier at the Illinois girls state wrestling tournament in Bloomington, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks. PhotoNews Media

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