STATE WRESTLING: Clyde's Greenslade, PC's Stork advance to girls semifinals

COLUMBUS — Clyde's Mimi Greenslade was grinning as she worked to get a pin in the girls quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at the OHSAA state wrestling championships. The official slapped the mat 1:39 into her match with Elyria's Emilie Conley, which moved Greenslade into Saturday night's semifinals and guaranteed her a top-six finish. "I'm just out there having fun," Greenslade said. "It makes it easier when you're having fun." Her dad and coach, Adam, was not smiling during an early scramble. Conley scored a quick pin against Mimi early in the season at Clyde and he was having flashbacks. "That Clyde tournament, I think she got pinned in 36 seconds," Adam said. "It was that same type of scramble. She hit the cement mixer on her and put (Mimi) straight to her back. It took a few years off my life when I saw that happen again. "The way she fought through it, she knows pressure, she knows leverage. She immediately transitioned to a head and arm. She knows that girl's moves. It was all heart fighting through that scramble because she was dead-to-rights." Mimi, a sophomore who finished seventh at state last year, was still smiling after the match. "I went to my bread and butter — bar half. I knew what she was going for," she said. "She did the same thing last time and caught me so I knew I had to get out of that position." Conley, who is a strong wrestler, pinned her opening round opponent in 16 seconds Friday night. Greenslade, who is 47-2 this season, was in good shape, though, once she got on top. "When she got the takedown and got on top — I'm always confident when Mimi's on top," Adam said. "Her bread and butter is the bar half, but she also runs a lot of other stuff from top. She can ride the whole period if she has to. She is such a strong mat wrestler." Mimi will wrestle two-time state finalist Mackenzie Carder (44-2) from Olentangy Orange in the semifinals, which are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. She'll be joined in the semis by Port Clinton's Michaela Stork, who won a physical 5-2 decision at 190 pounds against Wayne freshman Amiyah Murray. Stork (37-4) took a 3-0 lead with an early takedown, then got in trouble against a wrestler who prefers throws. As Murray was working to control Stork on the mat, the PC senior signaled to the official that she was physically in trouble. The match was stopped due to an illegal hold by Murray. "She grabbed my neck," Stork said. "I've been like choked out and concussed a few times last year. Her shoulder was on my chest, blocking off my airway. I couldn't breathe and I was trying to say something. "I almost felt like I was gonna throw up." Stork was allowed recovery time and led 5-2 going into the third period. She protected her lead in the final two minutes to clinch a podium spot. "Coach always tells me to wrestle smart, even though he knows I'm not very good at doing all of that," Stork said. "The last period I was trying to stay away so she couldn't throw me. Sometimes I'm good at defending throws by just keeping my hips back and pushing forward." Stork will wrestle Antwerp's Maddilan Doster (27-4) in the semifinals. Stork won the Division II state discus title last spring and now she's adding wrestling hardware after finishing 1-2 at state last year. "It's my fourth time at state (in track and wrestling). I'm way better at track than this," she said. "I want to place at state four of the five times I go. Last year I was just learning how to wrestle, I was new to it. I love this sport and I'm so upset that I only got into it my junior year. I was nervous getting into it so late. "It's my second year and I put in so much extra work so I could be here. I'm so proud of myself for being able to make it and actually place on the podium." The state discus champion has purple, red and pink streaks in her hair, so she's easy to spot on the mat. "Everyone can see me from the stands — gotta make sure everyone sees the main attraction."