FRANKLIN – The mindset was simple: last one, best one.

Kaylen Thomas knew Saturday was going to be her last wrestling match, so she decided to try and make it her greatest one yet.

"I knew this was going to be my last match ever, so I just wanted to give it my all," the Ravenwood High School senior said. "So I was like, last one, best one. That's what mattered."

Thomas, a multi-sport standout, ended her wrestling career with a 132-pound state championship at the Williamson County AgEXPO Center by pinning Clarksville's Madisen Bryant with 24 seconds remaining in the second period of the title match. It was her second consecutive win against a returning state medalist in her first trip to state. She earned an ultimate tie-breaker victory in the semifinals over top-seeded Haley Redmond of Gibbs Friday night in the semifinals.

"This feels amazing," Thomas said. "All the nervousness from this weekend has finally settled down. I'm just so excited."

Ravenwood coach Geston Gordon said Thomas had the goal of making it to state, but wanted her to add the attitude of being the best as well.

"The goal was to just make it here, but I wanted her to shoot for being No. 1 as well," he said. "Once she got that mentality, nobody was going to stop her. It's so impressive.

"And you know, she's very humble … she came off the mat and was like, 'Hey coach, I got a pin.' I'm just so proud because she's been working hard and it paid off."

Thomas was one of four Williamson County girls to reach the finals. Independence junior Brooklyn Long also won by fall, pinning neighborhood foe Emma Stephenson of Summit in the 138-pound championship and Indy teammate Rylee Lent added a runner-up finish at 100 pounds.

Long placed third last year at state and wrapped up an unbeaten 21-0 season by defeating Stephenson for a fourth time this season. She most recently stopped Stephenson in the Region 3 final to qualify for state last week.

"There was a little bit of pressure so I just tried really hard to not freak out," she said. "Being here has taught me that really anything can happen. I just tried to stay in good position and look for the right opportunities without taking any unnecessary risks."

Long took control from the whistle and recorded an early takedown before maneuvering for the pin with 12 seconds remaining in the first period.

"It's just so crazy that I'm here," Long said. "All season, I've been working to get here and it still doesn't feel real."

Lent faced Overton's unbeaten Vivian Mariscal in another Region 3 championship rematch and similarly had a comeback bid fall short. Mariscal, who held on for a 14-11 decision last week, built a 12-1 lead over Lent before the scrappy junior scored five quick nearfall points and provided plenty of pressure late. Mariscal withstood the rally for a 12-8 decision.

"I think both times she has given me a really good match," Lent said. "I'm excited to go out there next year and try to prove myself again."

Independence coach AJ Villarreal said he's excited about having both girls back in the wrestling room with Lent's leadership qualities likely to help inspire the whole team – girls and boys alike.

"Rylee was seconds away from pulling a massive comeback in the third period," he said. "I have no doubt with her leadership of not just the girls team but our entire program she will be pushing our entire room to be competing for a state championship or at the very least a state championship mentality."

After qualifying six girls for the state tournament last year, 15 advanced to the state stage this year from the county with the two champions, a runner-up and fifth place showing from Summit's Rylee Bennett at 126 pounds to highlight the finishes. 

The county's only other previous female state champions came in 2016 with Summit's Jailah Grimes and in 2017 with Independence's Zanya Shropshire.

Lent said she's fallen in love with wrestling over the past three years and is determined to have more girls join the team.

"I'm excited for us to be able to fill out more of the weight classes and just get a lot more strong contenders and a lot more girls up on that podium next year," she said. "I think it's an overall great experience. I know I've enjoyed this so much."

Earlier this month, the Rossview girls team collected the nation's first sanctioned team championship by a state high school association in the state duals tournament with female wrestling numbers rising consistently.

According to the National Federation of High Schools, 25 states have added separate girls wrestling championships tournaments like this week's since 2018. Tennessee was one of the first six states to sanction the sport since 1998.

The NFHS reported that participation numbers nearly tripled from 2010 to the 2018-19 season. Nearly 28,500 girls competing during the 2019-20 high school season, according to the data collected by the USA Wrestling Girls High School Development Committee.

Thomas was one of those who decided to just give the sport a try three years ago when Ravenwood launched its girls program. She's also a standout rugby and track and field star, but wanted to try a new sport in her offseason.

Gordon said she is an example for others to follow.

"I think she showed that if you stick with it and work hard like her, you can be a champion, too," he said. "She's a great example to promote girls wrestling, not just at Ravenwood."

Thomas said her journey with wrestling ended with her final match as she gears up for potentially more state trips in her other sports. She said she hopes more girls try the sport.

"It's the most rewarding experience," she said, holding her championship bracket and first-place medal. "More girls should try this."