Michael Smith
It was a close race between teams for first place of the District 4 girls tournament Saturday at Oak Park High School.
Staley ended up coming out on top with 119 points, three more than second-place Fort Osage. Park Hill was third with 112 points and Mid-Buchanan took fourth with 110.5 points.
The Falcons pushed through four wrestlers to the Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships which included two champions, Chase Kiel (130 pounds) and Chloe Scheckells (110). Fort Osage qualified three for state, Park Hill had four and Mid-Buch had had four.
Below is a summary of each weight class and who qualified for the state tournament:
100: Mid-Buchanan freshman Delanie Smith controlled her championship match with Park Hill South junior Aniya Coleman from start to finish and earned one of the four No. 1 seeds for state following a 9-1 major decision.
“It’s just a testament to all the work you put in,” Smith said of getting a No. 1 seed for state. “If you put it in, (the results) will come out.”
North Kansas City’s Jaclyn Fast took a 6-0 decision against Emma Mott.
State qualifiers:
1st: Delanie Smith. Mid-Buchanan
2nd: Aniya Coleman, Park Hill South
3rd: Jacyln Fast, North Kansas City
4th: Emma Mott, Staley
105: No. 1-ranked Julia Breeden didn’t like her matchup against St. Joseph Lafayette’s Isa-Bella Mendoza. It’s because the two competitors are very good friends, but they had to wrestle each other for the chance at a district title and a No. 1 seed at state. The two gave each other a big hug after the match following a 9-0 major decision won by Breeden.
“I go in with the same mentality as if I am wrestling anyone else,” Breeden said, “but I just hate wrestling people I am really good friends with. Even if I was to lose and she was to win, it still sucks because we are so close.”
Kearney’s Bailey Martin pinned Cameron’s Ashley Yamat to take third.
