On Saturday, March 1, under the bright lights of Jim Norick Arena, surrounded by a sea of viewers, history was made as Cordell sophomore Baylor Moore became the school’s first female state wrestling champion. Competing in the 120-pound division, Moore (34-4) secured her title with a decisive pin over Jolee Thomas of Plainview (18-2) to bag Cordell Public Schools’ first-ever girls’ wrestling state championship. This victory makes her the eighth overall state champion in Cordell wrestling history but the first female to achieve the honor.
For Moore, this victory was more than just a win—it was the pinnacle of years of hard work, sacrifice, and an unbreakable will to achieve her dream. She described what it meant to fulfill a promise she made to herself at just 10 years old.
Baylor’s victory has made history and inspired the next generation of female wrestlers in Cordell. Young athletes like Vera Burch, who recently won a state title in the 8U division, were influenced by Moore to try wrestling and now see a path forward thanks to her success and love for this sport. The Cordell community celebrates her achievement, watching her push the limits, set the bar higher, and knowing she has set a new standard for excellence in the sport. She has inspired not just those who look up to her but everyone around her.
As the first female wrestling state champion in Cordell’s history and the eighth overall in the school’s noted wrestling program, Moore’s legacy is just beginning.
“It feels awesome to be Cordell’s first state champion, especially because this has been my goal since I started wrestling back in pewees,” Moore said. “The moment I realized I had won, I started crying because it hit me that I had actually [done] it and that my hard work had paid off. I will never forget the feelings I had while standing on that podium.”