Wapello, IA- Wapello had the privilege of hosting the second Southeast Iowa Super Conference Girls’ Wrestling tournament last night and Van Buren County, behind five individual conference champions, usurped Pekin’s spot atop the mountain.
The Warriors dominated the night, compiling 203 team points with the Panthers coming in second place with 130 points. It was quite the turnaround from last year to this tournament as Van Buren County added four more conference champions.
Overall, there were four repeat conference champions with two of them wrestling in different weight classes.
100-Pound Weight Class
In a three-person race between Brystol Wiley of Van Buren County, Carlee Sexton of Lone Tree, and Grace Keltner of Louisa-Muscatine, Wiley, who entered the meet with a 24-4 record earned the first-round bye.
Sexton clipped Keltner to earn a spot in the finals, but Wiley handled business and pinned the senior within the first round to claim the Warriors’ first individual conference championship and 20 team points.
105-Pound Weight Class
Wapello’s Kenadee Helscher was getting ready to start an undefeated regular season that would take her to the doorstep of a state championship after winning the conference championship in the 100-pound weight class last year.
This season, the senior is in the 105-pound weight class and still undefeated after taking down Armony Adams of Van Buren County in 1:46. Helscher will enter the state qualifier as a two-time conference champion and 36-0 on the season.
110-Pound Weight Class
Pekin’s Lexa Nelson earned a first-round bye and defeated Michaela Rader of Louisa-Muscatine in the semifinals to clinch her spot in the championship match, attempting to make it back-to-back years of conference supremacy.
Nelson would do just that, winning by fall over Mallory Brauns of Van Buren County in the first round to secure her second conference title.
115-Pound Weight Class
Last year, Clara Ball of Wapello took 3rd place in the 110-pound weight class and this season the sophomore jumped up to the 115-pound weight class. After receiving a first-round bye, Ball had her toughest match of the night but managed to overcome Lena Prall of Mediapolis by fall.
She would make quick work of Emorry Davis of WACO to snatch the conference title and a 40-3 record of the year.
120-Pound Weight Class
In a crowded 120-pound weight class, Adley Sweeting of Highland, who has only lost one matchup this season, pinned WACO’s Makayla Morrison in 25 seconds to claim the conference crown in her freshman season.
Arianna Harvey of Van Buren County took 3rd place over Autumn Coleman of Pekin with a win by fall.
125-Pound Weight Class
It turned into a pattern as the night progressed, but Van Buren County’s Rylee Caviness was looking to turn last year’s 3rd place finish into gold this year. The senior would have a marathon match against Annabelle Hedges of Mediapolis but pick up the win by fall to advance to the to the championship match.
She would meet Lila Miller of Pekin in the gold-medal match and just how the team score would dictate, the Warrior would finish the match on top, pinning the Panther in two-minutes. Another 24 points towards the team’s total.
130-Pound Weight Class
Keeping the theme of redemption running, Oliva Magruder of Lone Tree turned bronze into gold after taking down Kaiya Swafford of Mediapolis in the championship match. Rylee Carter of Louisa-Muscatine claimed 3rd place and Rylee Phillips of Van Buren County took 5th place.
135-Pound Weight Class
The next Warrior to earn a title was Hadley Noe as she went 2-0 on the night and needed all three rounds to execute a pin of Maiya Singbeil of Highland for the conference championship.
140-Pound Weight Class
Lexie Wiley of Van Buren County got the bye and pinned both of her opponents on the night to claim the championship. Wiley enters the state qualifier with a 26-13 record. Wiley and Noe added 22 points apiece to the team’s effort.
145-Pound Weight Class
Pekin’s Hailey Pedrick is hoping to put it all together in her senior year campaign. The two-time state qualifier collected her 100th career victory back in December and was looking to make it back-to-back SEISC titles, although this year in the 145-pound weight class, compared the 140-pound weight class last season.
Pedrick made quick work of her semifinal opponent but needed another round to defeat Willow Worley of Van Buren County by fall to make it consecutive SEISC championships. The senior will hope to improve upon her 1-4 record at the state tournament if she can qualify for her third consecutive season.
155-Pound Weight Class
Kiersyn Duncombe of Louisa-Muscatine took down Lizbet Herrea of Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union by fall in the first round to take her first SEISC championship. Addison McLain of Van Buren County claimed 3rd place.
170-Pound Weight Class
In the final individual effort of the night for Van Buren County, Teagan Sickels battled Hailey McFarland of Highland and escaped the second round victorious with a win by fall. Another 22 points added to the Warriors’ total and just off champions alone, Van Buren County was able to rack up 110 points.
190-Pound Weight Class
Chloe Sexton of Highland kept her pace atop the weight class by defeating Jada Moats of Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union by fall in the championship match, making it back-to-back SEISC crowns for the Huskie.
235-Pound Weight Class
Lone Tree’s Fay Eyler was the lone wrestler to enter the tournament with a winning record for the 235-pound weight class and aptly dominated with a win by fall over Reese Connolly of Wapello early in the second round.
WACO’s Macy Bonebrake took 3rd place over Baylie Laymon of Louisa-Muscatine.
Up Next
Wapello will again play hosts on Friday, January 30th, for the Class 1A Region 6 state qualifying meet with Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union, Louisa-Muscatine, Van Buren County, Mediapolis, and WACO making the trip.
Lone Tree and Highland will make the trip to Midland for the Region 5 state qualifier and Pekin will compete at Williamsburg for the Region 8 qualifier.