Manchester’s Clifford Earns 4th Place At State Finals
Manchester’s Clifford Earns 4th Place At State Finals
Posted
Noah Tong-
Manchester’s Clifford Earns 4th Place At State FinalsNORTH MANCHESTER – Senior Haley Clifford entered Friday night’s competition with one motto on her mind: “Be fast, be tough, and be aggressive.”
That formula served her well, as she finished in fourth place in the 120 pounds weight class for Manchester in the Indiana High School Girls Wrestling state finals. The victory over her first-round opponent, highlighted by a first period pin, guaranteed her a spot in the winner’s bracket, and subsequently, a top four finish.
Although rarely considered a ‘girl’s sport’, Clifford has wrestled since sixth grade. She competes in all-female competitions, such as the IHSGW state tournament, and with the Manchester high school boys on the varsity team. The decision to pursue wrestling initially required convincing.
“In seventh grade my parents forced me to try basketball, because you know, other girls like to play basketball,” recalled Clifford. “I hated it. So I said, ‘Look, I did what you wanted this year, so let me do what I want.’” She never looked back.
Pinning her opponents, both male and female, is nothing new to head coach Bryan Sweet or Clifford’s teammates.
“She’s pinned three to four guys this year in some huge matches,” said Sweet. “The guys in the room notice and appreciate how hard she wrestles.”
“When she goes out there, and you know the other team is sending a guy, that coach is probably thinking he’s going to beat you,” he continued. “I think Haley gets a thrill out of that.”
Still, Clifford is quick to point out that adjustments are not needed when facing guys instead of girls.
“Wrestling is wrestling,” she said. “I don’t really change up anything.”
To qualify for the tournament, Clifford won three north regional matches in what is, historically, a difficult weight class for female wrestlers. Advancing to state often requires more wins in Clifford’s weight class than higher weight classes. “Sometimes when you get into the heavier weights, there just aren’t as many girls competing,” explained head coach Byron Sweet.
Clifford and Sweet have also noticed firsthand the increased quality in girls wrestling, since the IHSGW’s inaugural year in 2016.
“The girl’s league has really improved since then,” said Sweet. “The competition was not where it’s at now.”
“Haley is very competitive too,” said Sweet. “That’s one of my favorite things about coaching her. I always know she’s going to bring the intensity every time she goes out there.”
So why has this competitive spirit and intensity remained after all these years?
“I just like winning,” said Clifford, straight-faced. “I like pinning guys. The first time I pinned a guy he cried, and I liked that feeling.”
Upon graduation, Clifford will enter Basic Combat Training with the United States Army. She will then attend Indiana University-Kokomo and pursue a nursing degree.
