Thank you to Luke Westerlund for the awesome pics! Check out his page at shotbyluke.pixieset.com!
Montague has been at the forefront of the women’s wrestling boom in Michigan, and senior Ava Pelton has been leading the charge. One of the areas best, she has been a dominant force on the mat, she helped take the program from a handful of girls wrestling in the boys’ division to a full-fledged women’s team.
Every time I sat down to write this article, she achieved another milestone. First, she hit her 100th career win at the Northview Tournament on January 11, 2025, making her the first female wrestler in Muskegon County history to join the prestigious century club. Funny enough, she didn’t even realize she was about to hit the milestone. “I didn’t even know I was that close… not until he handed me the poster,” Pelton said in a recent podcast with CatchMark SportsNet. When asked how she felt, she kept it simple: “Shocking… I didn’t think that this was possible.”
Then, she dominated her regional tournament at 145 pounds, taking first at the Plainwell women’s wrestling tournament in December 2024. That win sent her to the state finals for the second straight year.
Just when I thought I had her story wrapped up, she went to states last weekend and proved once again why she’s one of the best. She finished fifth, earned All-State honors, and capped off her high school career with a pin to secure her final win.
Oh, and let’s not forget—on top of all that, she’s also a National Honor Society member, balancing her time between wrestling and excelling in the classroom.
Just as one season wraps up, another begins. In just a few short weeks, Pelton will be back in action, this time on the soccer field. She was a key player for Montague’s team last year, helping them to a strong season that saw them battle deep into the playoffs. With a new head coach, Chris Aebig, leading the team this year, expectations are high. Pelton will once again be a leader, and given the way her senior year has been going, I wouldn’t be surprised if I have to add another milestone before I even finish typing this.
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