Belmont County Commissioner Vince Gianangeli, from left, Barnesville High School freshman Ladyn Hines, Commissioners Jerry Echemann, and J.P. Dutton celebrate Hines recently becoming the school's first ever OHSAA 115-pound State Wrestling Champion.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – History was made last month as Barnesville High School freshman Ladyn Hines became the school’s first girl to not only qualify for the Ohio state wrestling tournament, but to win a state championship.

On Wednesday, Hines was honored by the Belmont County Board of Commissioners for her accomplishments.

Hines won the OHSAA 115-pound state title at Value City Arena at the Ohio State University by knocking off Little Miami’s Laylee Vera 4-1 in overtime.

Commissioner Jerry Echemann on Wednesday read a proclamation dedicated to celebrate the hard work and dedication she exhibited in the feat. Hines ended her first varsity season with 39 wins and four losses and is the first girl from Barnesville High School to both qualify and win in the state tournament gold.

“Whereas a heartfelt congratulations are extended to head coach Jason Steven of Barnesville High School and father and coach Buddy Hines,” Echemann said, “the Belmont County commissioners, on behalf of all of the county residents, do hereby honor Ladyn Hines on her athletic achievements and wish her continued success and all of her future endeavors.”

Hines began wrestling when she was only 3 years old. She told Echemann that she hopes to attend Iowa University after high school due to its impressive wrestling program. Echemann asked what she plans to study in college, and Hines said she is currently undecided, but is interested in becoming either a food nutritionist or delivery nurse.

“I have actually wanted to do the Olympics since I was a little girl,” she said. “I look up to [three-time Olympic medalist] Helen Morales, but then I also want to do the UFC stuff. So I don’t know, I’m gonna figure it out as I go.”

She added that the amount of support she’s received has been wonderful.

“I had a lot of people supporting me,” she said. “We had a suite up there, a lot of people crying. Everybody in the hallway was cheering, giving me hugs, taking a bunch of pictures when I won. So it means a lot that everybody’s behind me.”

In addition to wrestling, Hines competes in track and volleyball, with plans to join the school’s softball team next year and has a 3.9 GPA. When she’s not competing and learning, she’s working on her grandfather Marvin Butler’s farm.

Commissioner Vince Gianangeli asked Butler, who was sitting beside Hines at the meeting, what he thought when his granddaughter said she wanted to wrestle. He said that he’s incredibly proud of his granddaughter and, ever since she was little, he knew she was a tomboy.

Hines said that, in the offseason, she continues to workout to ensure she stays at the 115 pound weight class.

“I usually work out during school during the first lunch period, and then I go home and run a mile every day. But whenever I’m not in school, I usually run two miles a day, and then run hills,” Hines said. “And then I have a wrestling mat in my basement, and do drills during the summer.”

She added that she believes eating “right” is crucial to maintain her weight which is what led her to being interested in a career in food nutrition.

Commissioner J.P. Dutton said that it’s clear that Hines has a strong self discipline, which has helped her become successful so early into her high school tenure.

“It’s pretty impressive, not only the discipline it takes just to do wrestling in general, let alone with everything else that you’re doing, and obviously, it seems like you’re doing a pretty high level. It’s really impressive,” Dutton said. “You’ve made the entire county proud as well as made your school and the village of Barnesville proud.”

He added that he likes when the board is able to take the time to single out young residents who are doing exceptional things because it makes him feel hopeful for the future of the county.

“One of the great things of these types of days is we’re able to recognize individuals like yourself and get a chance to talk to you, and just seeing how exceptional you are and it makes us feel a bit better about the future of our communities and county,” Dutton said. “Because there’s individuals like you out there who’re really performing at a really high level. So we like to take a few minutes to honor that, because it does mean a lot to us. It also means a lot to a lot of people too, so we appreciate it.”