Central sending three wrestlers to first sanctioned girls state tournament
Taylor Moser (left), Reese Berns and Tori Sylvester are heading to the girls state wrestling tournament, after placing fourth or better in their respective weight classes in the Jan. 27 regional qualifier. (Photo courtesy of Central Athletic Boosters)
Berns took second at 115 pounds. (Photo by Jarod Bormann)
Taylor Moser, shown here celebrating with coach Colten Ledbetter, placed fourth at 125 pounds. (Photo by Jarod Bormann)
Tori Sylvester qualified at 120 pounds after placing fourth at regionals. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
The inaugural season of Central’s high school girls wrestling program has proved to be a success story in the aftermath of the regional qualifier at Luther College in Decorah. The Warriors finished ninth of 20 teams and are sending three wrestlers—Reese Berns, Tori Sylvester and Taylor Moser—to the state tournament in Coralville Feb. 2 and 3.
Berns opened regionals with two byes before dispatching her first two opponents via falls, one of which came in 49 seconds in the quarterfinals. Berns rolled through the semifinals, before coming up just short of first place in the championship match. She placed second at 115 pounds.
Sylvester started the tournament with a bye, then won the next two matches by decisions, 5-3 in round two and 8-6 in the quarterfinals. Although she lost a hard-fought match in the semifinals and was pinned in the consolation semis, Sylvester rebounded with two victories to secure the fourth and final qualifying spot at 120 pounds.
Moser, too, started the day with a bye into round two, where she earned a win by fall. Another pin win followed in the quarterfinals. Moser lost a 9-2 decision in the semifinals, but bounced back to win in the consolation semis via fall. Moser’s day continued with a loss by fall in the third place match, before she ended the day with a pin to take fourth place at 125 pounds.
Of Central’s remaining wrestlers, Mayleigh Medberry was the next highest finisher in 6th place at 135 pounds. She went 2-3 in matches with one bye. Kimberly Suhr, who wrestled at 130, was 2-2 with one bye and did not place. Maci Keppler competed at 140 pounds, going 0-2 with three byes and did not place, while Rebecca Suhr finished the tournament 1-2 with one bye and did not place at 155.
