Five mats.
To prepare for the first place matches of the MHSAA Wrestling State Championship, Ford Field cuts the competition field in half, leaving five mats for the final matches of the day.
Two years ago Plymouth junior Nanda Kibi watched those final matches in awe thinking that would never be her.
That was until March 1, 2025, when Kibi walked out to those final five mats for her first place match and won.
As a former judo specialist, eighth-grade Kibi was looking to join a school sport and wrestling seemed like a good option. “I hated [wrestling] in eighth grade,” said Kibi. “I hated it and I wanted to quit, but then I stuck it out.”
Kibi made it to the state competition her freshman year, finishing eighth overall earning an all-state honor. After a difficult sophomore season, Kibi did not make it to the state mat to improve her eighth-place finish.
“Last year I hated the sport,” said Kibi. “I was like, I have to make weight, I have to, I have to compete this weekend, I have to go to practice. And then this year it was, I get to.”
Last summer Kibi finished top 10 at nationals, rejuvenating her going into her junior year.
Kibi cruised through her junior season in dominating fashion. She finished the year with a 31-1 record. The one loss came from a nationally ranked number two wrestler. Kibi took home the KLAA, District, and Regional titles, earning her a number two seed going into the state championship.
March 1, 2025, Kibi made the trip to Ford Field to take on the MHSAA championship. As part of the 140 bracket, there were three rounds between her and the final. Throughout the competition, Kibi continued her dominance, quickly pinning her first three opponents in quick succession.
“I went into states knowing that I was already predicted to go to the finals. I was seeded number two, and none of my matches this year have been close. All the girls I beat were because I was better, so then, I was just doing what I needed to do.”
Progressing through the extensive tournament, Kibi remained calm.
“I made it fun,” said Kibi. “I had my White girl music, and I was singing, and I was just being really stupid, but it was fun.”
Ultimately, Kibi advanced to the first-place match. After cutting the field in half, five elusive mats remained to host the final matches. Kibi walked out, set to take on the overall number one seed.
“My freshman year, when I watched it, I was like, ‘I’m never like, that’s never gonna be me. I placed eight this year, and that was a struggle, that’s never gonna be me,’” said Kibi. “Everyone’s watching these five matches. These are people’s dreams coming true.”
Kibi’s momentum did not falter heading into the final match. With a takedown from Kibi and a reversal from her opponent, the score sat at 3-2 when Kibi got a hold of her opponent. In a time of two minutes and 35 seconds, Kibi pinned the number one seed, automatically seizing history.
The success at states improved her season record to 35-1.
Kibi knew going into the tournament she had a chance at history. Previously, the highest place by a Plymouth wrestler was a fourth-place finish.
“I knew, but like, it feels different to do it, you know? I mean now I’m the first women state champion, the first, female Park champ. And it’s like, it feels different, now that I’ve done it. It’s easy to say,’ Oh, if you win, then you’re gonna be but it’s different.’”
Wrestling is a male-dominated sport, which extends to the P-CEP wrestling teams. Kibi and the four other girls on the Plymouth wrestling team are greatly outnumbered by boys.
“It’s a little depressing, because every time I win or I win a tournament, even if it’s like, people that I train with, they’re like, ‘Oh, you it’s so much easier for you because you’re a girl.’ I’m a girl wrestling girls. What do you know?”
Nevertheless, Kibi would tell a girl interested in wrestling, “Just have fun. Just try it, just go into it open-minded. Because, like I said, I hated it the first time I did it. Now it’s so much better because I love doing it.”
During the school off-season, Kibi competes in freestyle, which is the style of wrestling competed in college. Kibi has an intensive meet line up, from Las Vegas for nationals to Fargo, the biggest national tournament in the country.
“This isn’t the end for me,” said Kibi. “This is states and I did what I needed to do. I’m proud of myself and the work I’ve put in, but there’s so much more.”
