Whiteland senior Leila Thomas, left, goes up against Perry Meridian’s Lillian Dodd in the semifinal round of the Mid-State Conference tournament.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
One-and-dones aren’t always viewed positively.
Whiteland wrestler Leila Thomas, a two-time girls state finalist while competing for her previous high school, is putting an entirely different spin on such categorization.
As a senior, Thomas, ranked fifth in the state at 170 pounds, gets one go-around in a Warriors singlet. It’s one she hopes is punctuated by her making the slow, joyful climb to the top of the awards podium inside Kokomo’s Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 12.
In the early part of October, Thomas moved from Alexandria to live with an aunt and uncle and complete high school in new surroundings.
“I didn’t love the idea, but she was about to turn 18 (Leila did so on Dec. 15), and just wanted a change of scenery,” said Leila’s mom, Echo Shepheard. “But this has kind of helped her grow up a bit.”
Thomas is well traveled for someone so young.
She attended Perry Township schools from kindergarten through second grade, was part of the Greenwood Community School system from grades 3-9 and attended Alexandria High School the past two school years.
“I don’t mind it. I like knowing a lot of people,” Thomas said. “I love (Whiteland). I like the big school versus the small school.”
Unlike many of those she stands across from during dual and multi-team events, Thomas remains relatively new to competitive wrestling.
“I started when I was a sophomore,” Thomas said. “Alexandria had two girls wrestlers, and they had just brought it up to me in the locker room. I was, like, okay. I actually had a friend in middle school ask me to, and I told her no.”
Timing being everything, Thomas eventually picked up the sport and immediately excelled. She finished fifth at the girls state finals as a sophomore at 195 pounds, and followed with a third-place performance last season at 182.
She has two sisters who are still at Alexandria High School, including Riley Thomas, a freshman wrestler for the Tigers. Her sister Avery is a sophomore there.
“We see each other a lot, especially during wrestling season,” Leila Thomas said of her siblings. “We’re at a lot of the same tournaments.”
Last week, the Whiteland girls took part in the Mid-State Conference tournament at Mooresville, a night that proved historic as Thomas pinned all three of her opponents to become the first Warrior female to claim a conference wrestling title.
Thomas’s dominance upped her season record to 18-3, but she has another, far loftier, goal in mind.
“Win state,” Thomas said succinctly.
Shepheard isn’t about to bet against her.
“Not surprised at all,” she said of her daughter’s success this season. “Once Leila sets her mind on something, she’ll do it. She’s probably one of the most stubborn kids you’ll meet.”
Thomas isn’t sure if wrestling collegiately is part of her future, the weeks and months ahead likely to more accurately determine her plans.
“I would like to, but I’m also going to go for nursing, so I’m not really sure yet,” Thomas said.
The Whiteland girls roster is currently comprised of five wrestlers, a number likely to grow in future seasons given the sport’s rapid growth.
As a senior — and an accomplished one, at that — the presence of Thomas has been a plus for Warriors coach Anthony Meister.
“It’s huge. She’s definitely the leader of the girls, and helping them get better,” Meister said. “Leila leads more by example. Since we don’t have many girls, she’s able to take the four other girls under her wing, and they just kind of follow her lead and do what she does.
“She’s a good kid who fits in well with everyone, the boys and girls.”
