By Becky Walz,
With the opening session of the 2024 IGHSAU girls’ state wrestling tournament wrapped up Decorah has a slim lead in the team standings with 51 points over East Buchanan who has 48. Sitting third is Cedar Falls with 43.
Of the nine Vikings taking the mats this morning and afternoon five are still in vying for the top spot on the podium. Both of South Winn’s athletes are still alive as well with one in the championship bracket and one on the consolation side.
The quarterfinals, along with second and third wrestlebacks kick off tonight (Thursday], Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. Wrestling will continue Friday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m., with the semifinals and fourth and fifth wrestlebacks, along with the seventh-place matches. The 2024 state tournament will conclude with the evening session Friday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m., with the championship, third-place and fifth-place bouts.
Title bound
At 100 pounds, Chloe Sheffield, the sixth seed, opened her tournament with a 9-1 major decision of Addison Schulte of West Delaware. Throwing Sophia Calpito of Charles City in 2:44, the Viking secured a spot in the quarterfinals against third seeded Harley Tobin of Algona.
Ana Simon remains in the hunt for the title at 145 pounds. As the No. 6 seed, the sophomore threw Alexis Steele of Southeast Polk in 1:58 in round one. She recorded a second fall in round two, pinning Jalyiah Gardner of Keokuk in 1:17.
It was two falls for Lauren Luzum at 155 pounds as well. Luzum turned Paige Howieson of Dubuque Hempstead in 3:10 in round one, then threw Macie Graves of Cedar Falls in 3:31.
Top-ranked Naomi Simon is seeking her fourth title and is well on her way with two pins at 170 pounds. The Iowa recruit put Genevieve Lantigua of Marshalltown on her back in 1:13 to win round one. Later N. Simon took 1:04 to get the fall over Iowa City Liberty’s Kensi Steele.
At 190 pounds, Kamryn Steines is off to a good start for the state tournament, throwing Kendra Kruckenberg of Clear Lake in just 18 seconds. In round two, Steines needed a bit more time to turn Emma De Jong of Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, advancing to the quarterfinals with a fall in 2:53.
Consolation side of things
Ellie Adams dropped her first match of the day by a 4-0 decision to Natalie Keller of Raccoon River-Northwest to fall into the backside of the bracket at 115 pounds. The freshman kept her season alive in the first round of the consolation bracket by a 1-0 decision over Clarinda’s Randi Welchans.
Going 1-1 so far today, 135-pound McKenzie Tollefson fell into the consolation bracket in round two. She began her day with a fall over Josephine Budederi of Cedar Rapids Jefferson in 4:52, but in fell to Espie Almazan of Lewis Central in 1:42.
At 140 pounds, Amelia Wadsworth came into the day as the 13th seed and threw Lauryn Metcalf of Ames in 3:47, then later lost a 4-2 decision to Dionni Garcia-Vasquez of West Liberty.
Madysen Lippe took a fall in 50 seconds at 235 pounds to open her competition against Makenna Fetters of Martensdale-St. Mary’s. The sophomore rebounded in round two to pin Aniyah Smith of Mason City in 38 seconds.
For the Warriors
Two wrestlers took the mats this morning for South Winn as well with Kaydn Meyer still searching for the title at 125 pounds. The senior threw Camden Erhardt of Vinton-Shellsburg in round one in 3:33. Coming face-to-face with Addie Nelson of Southeast Polk, Meyer survived to win the 4-2 decision.
Sophomore Maddy Jansen kicked off her day with a 4-0 decision that went in favor of Averi Burke of Carroll. In the consolation bracket the sophomore kept her second trip to state alive with fall in 1:39 over Karise Benson of Dubuque Senior.
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