The No. 8-ranked Odessa had a tough task ahead of it during the Class 1 District 4 Tournament Saturday at Kearney High School.
Odessa, however, proved it could be a contender for a Class 1 state championship this season. It ran away with first place in districts, scoring 205 points, ahead of Oak Grove and Smithville, both of whom tied for second place with 134 points. Kearney was fourth with 128.
Interviews:
- Miah Parker, Gallatin (235)
- Ellie Pickett, Smithville (190)
- Carli Vargas, Kearney (170)
- Justice Brewer, Cameron (155)
- Keely Fallert, Oak Grove (145)
- Aliyah Jesse, Lawson (140)
- Lauren Phillips, Oak Grove (135)
- Emily Bischoff, Odessa (130)
Odessa had eight wrestlers qualify for state as the competitors who finished fourth or higher punched their ticket to Columbia.
Odessa sophomore Emily Bischoff led the team with its only first-place finish in the 130-pound weight bracket. The other Bulldogs to qualify were Addison Eddleman (115, third), Aaliyah Sanders (120, second), Emma Mahan (125, third), Wylie Smith (135, fourth), Bella Palmer (140, second), Brianna Ford (155, third) and Brooke Butler (170, second).
Below is a breakdown of the championship matches and state qualifiers of each weight class:
100: Lathrop sophomore Aubrey Schrunk had a close match with Center J Colbert, but ended up taking first following a 4-1 decision.
State qualifiers:
1st: Aubrey Schrunk, Lathrop
2nd: J Colbert, Center
3rd: Jaylynn Garst, Rock Port
4th: Olivia Cunningham, Mid-Buchanan
105: Kearney junior Bailey Martin pinned Rock Port sophomore Noah Watkins in 4:30 to earn first place.
State qualifiers:
1st: Bailey Martin, Kearney
2nd: Norah Watkins, Rock Port
3rd: Lillian McCleary, Lone Jack
4th: Taryn Hearn, Cameron
110: Kearney sophomore Riley Walker took down Lafayette County junior Kyana Huseynov in 44 seconds by fall to clinch a No. 1 seed for state.
State qualifiers:
1st: Riley Walker, Kearney
2nd: Kyana Huseynov, Lafayette County
3rd: Taiyahna Pruett, Center
4th: Annalese Happy, Excelsior Springs
115: Mid-Buchanan junior Delanie Smith pinned Savannah sophomore Jade Brundige in 1:57 to earn her place atop the podium.
State qualifiers:
1st: Delanie Smith, Mid-Buchanan
2nd: Jade Brundige, Savannah
3rd: Addison Eddleman, Odessa
4th: Ali Gonzalez, Lathrop