Thurston wrestler Denise Binford wins her match against Ontario’s Abby Osei to advance to the finals of the 2019 OSAA Wrestling State Championships Feb. 23, 2019, in Portland, Ore
Changing the Game
Meet the new generation of women wrestlers redefining the sport
By Darienne Stiyer and Griffin Reilly June 4, 2019
Pinned on her stomach with almost zero mobility, Denise Binford still looked calm. Her eyes still saw the gold.
Her opponent, Abby Osei of Ontario High, had come out on the offensive. She pinned Binford over and over and tried to put her in a corner. No matter the position, however, Binford didn’t seem to be losing steam. Or confidence, for that matter.
She locked eyes with her coaches, only a few feet away on the sidelines. They screamed instructions to her, demonstrating different methods she could use to escape the hold. Osei was growing noticeably tired.
Now in the third round of the match, the two had been wrestling for over five minutes -- the longest girls’ match of the tournament thus far.
This was where Binford had her advantage. In a quick series of moves, she escaped her hold, spun around and pinned Osei. Just like that, the match was over. The referee grabbed Binford’s left hand and raised it into the air.
She was headed to the state finals.