Hollie Yokley has been on a personal quest after last year’s fourth-place finish at the TSSAA State Wrestling Tournament.
Most wrestlers would have been satisfied with a top 4 finish at the state level, but Yokley wanted more. Her strenuous workout regimen and dedication got her all the way back to this year’s TSSAA State Tournament.
After a loss to the eventual winner of the tournament in her second match, Yokley fought her way back up the loser’s bracket for a bronze medal and a third-place finish.
Yokley, a 17-year-old junior at Warren County High School, is one of only a few Lady Pioneer wrestlers. She blazed a trail through the season and earned a second consecutive trip to the state wrestling tournament in the 130-pound class.
On Friday, in her first match, Yokely defeated Saskia Buse, a foreign exchange student who refused to wrestle Yokley. She advanced to the second round without even breaking a sweat.
In the second round Friday night, she was faced with her toughest match of the tournament, admitted Yokley. In a back-and-forth match that lasted the entire three rounds, Yokley was defeated by Krista Legagneur of Bearden, 15-12.
Yokley got off to an early 5-0 start and then she made some mistakes that allowed Legagneur to claim the lead. Not able to take control back, her frustration quickly mounted.
Yokley left herself open and got caught late in the third. She was able to regain control with 30 seconds left.
Yokley made a move that would have tied the match as time expired.  The loss moved her to the loser’s bracket and cost Yokley any hopes of a first-place finish.
On Saturday morning, Yokley returned and refused to settle and maintained her composure. Her next opponent was Sky DeWeese from White House and just 43 seconds into the match Yokley took her straight to her back and pinned DeWeeese to the mat.
Her momentum skyrocketed and Yokley was pumped and was guaranteed at least a fourth-place finish.
In her final match, she faced Kyah St. Marie from Stone Memorial, a favorite to win the state tournament this year.
Yokley took her down in the first round and put the heavily favored St. Marie on her back. In the second round St. Marie escaped and scored. Yokley took her back to the mat and after two rounds Yokley led 10-1.
In the third and final round Yokley again took her opponent to the mat and laced her on her back. This time Yokley was well aware of the implications of the match and wrapped up her opponent and won the match by pinfall with 1:09 left.
Yokley is Warren County’s first two-time medalist in the state wrestling tournament and the highest placing medalist for WCHS in wrestling.
She is already in the planning stages for next season and plans on attending camps over the summer. She credits her coaches Dave Holcomb, Stephen Martin, and Bob Bailey. She also is thankful to former Warren County Pioneer wrestler Ray Bishop and her instructor at Gary Steele Karate, Paul Byars.