Rheese Benjamin finishes 8th at wrestling state finals

Monday, January 19, 2026 at 12:06 PM

By Jeff Brown

Parke Heritage's Rheese Benjamin (top) tries to maintain control of Mooresville's Kaydie Epley during their quarterfinal round match at 115 pounds at the IHSAA Girls Wrestling State Championships

Parke Heritage sophomore Rheese Benjamin won her opening round match Friday at the IHSAA Girls Wrestling State Championships at Corteva Coliseum but could not produce a second victory.

Benjamin, competing at 115 pounds, scored a third-period pinfall win over East Noble’s Ezmeralda Lewis to reach the quarterfinal round.

Benjamin suffered her first loss to Mooresville’s Kaydie Epley, ranked No. 3, to fall into the consolation round. Epley pinned Benjamin in 3:02.

Benjamin returned to the mat and lost 16-5 to Fort Wayne North’s Gisele Kline. She would finish eighth overall after getting pinned in the second round against Carroll’s Rachel Ballard.

Benjamin finished the season 24-6.

South Putnam

South Putnam junior Kaylee Williams pinned Lawrence North’s Esther Ajishegiri at 155 pounds to reach the quarterfinal round and secure a top eight finish.

Garrett’s Rhaigyn Trenary dispatched Williams to the consolation round with a first period pinfall defeat.

Williams was then defeated by Warsaw’s Mariana Castro before recovering the win the seventh-place match over Franklin’s Liyana Romero, 6-5.

Williams finished the season at 22-10.