NEW YORK STATE GIRLS WRESTLING: TIOGA'S BAILEY WRAPS UP CAREER AT STATES; GOES 1-2 (12 PHOTOS) (February 27, 2025)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ALBANY — Tioga senior Kali Bailey capped her career with an appearance at the inaugural NYSPHSAA Girls Wrestling Championships here Thursday at the MVP Arena, and posted a 1-2 record.

"It's not the result she wanted," said Tioga coach Jim Walsh. "But if you look at her career, she's come a long way ... two state appearances, multiple wins (39 to be exact) the last year, and several first-, second-, and third-place tournament finishes."

Bailey, the ninth seed at 132 pounds, lost her opening-round match to Deposit-Hancock's Nora Bartholomew via fall in 65 seconds in a rematch of the Section IV title match.

Bailey bounced back for a wild win — a pin of Scarsdale's Daisy Bennett in 4:59 — in the first round of wrestlebacks.

Bailey scored a takedown and two runs in a leg vine to take a quick 6-0 lead, but Bennett answered with six points of her own to tie the bout at 6-6 less than a minute in.

Bailey hit for a takedown with 18 seconds remaining to take an 8-6 lead after the first three minutes.

Bennett took Bailey to her back in a four-point move early in the second period for a 10-8 lead, but Bailey answered with a takedown to tie it at 10-10 with 2:01 remaining in the second period.

Bennett took a 12-10 lead with 1:25, but Bailey rolled through and took Bennett to her back toe the bout, then finished off the fall.

Bailey took that momentum into the consolation and hit two four-point moves in the first 31 seconds for an 8-0 lead over Canandaigua's Josie Lamb.

Lamb regrouped, however, forcing Bailey out-of-bounds to close the gap to 8-1.

Moments later, Lamb took Bailey to her back for a fall at 1:09.

"Coming off a big win, she was up 8-1 and looking really good, attacking nicely," said Walsh. "She got her head outside, and got caught.

"She's disappointed, but if you look at her career ... she had a fantastic career," added Walsh. "She did well for her team, the community, and for herself."

Walsh said Bailey has a big impact on the program.

"This is a young and growing program," he said. "She's been a two-year captain, she works tremendously hard in the wrestling room.

"Kali is the consummate student-athlete — very active in school, honor student, and a super athlete.

"She's very reliable, dependable, and responsible," added Walsh. "She is positive role model for the younger girls, especially her work ethic ... she can hold her head high."

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PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.

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