Youngsville’s McKenzie Hodak, left, qualified for the USA Wrestling Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships which will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from June 28-30. Submitted Photo

Fresh off a runner-up finish at the Phil Portuese Northeast Regional Championships in Atlantic City, Youngsville’s McKenzie Hodak, along with her Bad Karma Wrestling Club teammates, made the long trek out to Fort Wayne, Indiana for the Central Region Championships.

Hodak competed in both the 14U Girls Freestyle and 14U Girls Greco-Roman tournaments.

On Saturday, Hodak competed in Freestyle in the 87-90-pound weight class.

She began her day with a first round bye and then squared off with Michigan Girls Freestyle and Greco-Roman state champion Jahnavi Marion. Hodak led 7-2 after the first period. Marion mounted a comeback in the second period, however, Hodak scored a push-out point and then Marion scored six unanswered points to knot the score at 8-8. The score remained 8-8 at the end of the second and final period.

There is no overtime in Freestyle or Greco-Roman so the match went to criteria and because Marion scored last she was awarded the win.

Hodak dropped to the consolation bracket and later faced two-time Kentucky Girls Freestyle state champion Naiya De Los Santos in the consolation finals. Heading into the second period it was 9-0 De Los Santos.

De Los Santos picked up the winning points 44 seconds into the second period to win by 11-0 technical fall.

On Sunday, Hodak entered into the 14U Girls Greco-Roman tournament.

Competing in the 87-90-pound weight class, Hodak opened with Montana state champion Timi Coles. Hodak scored the first points of the first period, but Coles scored the remainder. Coles scored two four point moves to lead 8-2 after one. Facing a six point deficit, Hodak headed into the second period with little to lose. Coles iced the match with another two points in the second period to end the match by 10-2 technical fall.

Hodak then picked up a win by forfeit over familiar foe Naiya De Los Santos of Kentucky to clinch a runner-up finish.

By virtue of her podium finishes at both the Northeast and Central Region Championships, Hodak has qualified for the USA Wrestling Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships which will be held June 28-30 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.