Warriors start the girls wrestling season strong
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
The Central girls wrestling team opened its season last week, going 1-1 in a pair of duals and performing well at a tournament.
The Warriors took down Alburnett 42-30 in a Nov. 18 triangular at New Hampton/Turkey Valley. Although they benefitted from five wins due to forfeit, both Mylee Mueller at 170 pounds and Daisha Allison at 125 helped Central secure the victory. Mueller defeated her opponent in just 23 seconds, while Allison got a fall in 3:25.
The Pirates, too, picked up 24 points due to forfeits, but won just one wrestled match, when Carlyn McGraw pinned Warrior Macie Cole late in their 105-pound bout.
There were double forfeits at 155 and 235 pounds.
Central had a taller task against host New Hampton/Turkey Valley, who won that dual 78-6. With a full lineup, the Chickasaws were able to accumulate seven wins via forfeit against the smaller Warrior squad. They also earned pins against Central wrestlers Mueller (170), Cole (105), Kendall Wagner (115), Allison (120), Maci Keppler (130) and Luz Hernandez (135).
Mayleigh Medberry was responsible for the Warriors’ six points, after pinning Harper Humpal at 140 pounds.
On Nov. 21, four of Central’s five varsity wrestlers placed at the Bellevue Girls Invitational. Medberry led the effort as the 135-pound runner-up. After an opening round bye, Medberry breezed past Central DeWitt’s Delaney Kueter by a 17-2 technical fall, then pinned Melanie Kenworthy from Northeast to reach the championship match. There, Cascade’s Carly Manternach secured a fall over her in the second period.
Keppler placed third for the Warriors in the 130-pound bracket. She earned a quick pin over Mena Albaghdadi of Clinton in her first match, but couldn’t get past Ava Streeter from Durant in the next. Fortunately, Keppler rebounded on the back side with a convincing 13-9 decision over Central DeWitt’s Kallie Burzlaff.
Mueller claimed the fifth spot on the podium at 170 pounds, securing falls over Ashlie Oronzio of Central DeWitt and Jenna Jones of Wapello after a loss in her first match.
After going 2-2 on the night, Wagner placed sixth at 115 pounds. Central DeWitt’s Greenley Grell pinned her in the opening match, but Wagner picked up a fall against Emma Butt from Northeast in match two. The momentum continued with an 11-7 decision against Camanche’s Pyper Krogman, before Stella Houselog from Dubuque Hempstead pinned Wagner in the fifth-place bout.
Allison finished the invitational 1-2, including a fall against Madison Kenworthy of Northeast, but did not place at 120 pounds.
As a team, the Warriors placed eighth amid the 16-team field, with 57.5 points. Central DeWitt was the invitational champion with 189 points, and Clinton was the runner-up at 179.5.
Central will compete in a tournament on Nov. 25, in their only action this week. They’ll host the Central Girls Wrestling Dual Tournament next week, on Dec. 5.
