It had been about two months since most wrestlers competed.
The last big freestyle tournament was in July at the Fargo National tournament which featured some of the best high school wrestlers in the United States.
In last Saturday’s Central Cup dual tournament at Olathe Northwest High School. Several wrestlers were knocking off some rust from not competing in two months or longer.
Three teams from Missouri entered the tournament and the Midwest Elite squad had the best finish out of all the teams from the state. It went 3-1 in the pool bracket and narrowly missed out on making the championship match following a 35-33 loss to the Queens of Mayhem team out of Kansas.
The Midwest Elite ended up take third after a 48-22 win against the Rough Riders. The Queens of Mayhem ended up winning the tournament following a 41-21 win over Oklahoma LTD Blue.
The Missouri Outlaws Pink team took sixth after going 2-2 in its pool bracket and losing the final match to Oklahoma LTD Red 42-30. The Missouri Outlaws Black team finished eighth and lost all five of its duals.
Zolah Williams, who is entering her freshman season at Kearney this season, was a big part of Midwest Elite’s success. She finished 5-0 and ended her day with a pin of Peyton Eklund in 1 minute and 41 seconds.
“I think I wrestled really well,” Williams said. “I am getting back into preseason. I was a little bit rusty but I got back in it. I really liked my shots.”
Other members of Midwest Elite to finish 5-0 were Jauzlyean Gray (130), who won by a 10-0 tech fall over Addilyn Masters in her final bout; and Erin Delling (135), who pinned Rachel Wilson in 1:36 in her last match.
Defending state champion Carli Vargas (190) of Kearney also had a big hand in the win. She finished 4-1 and ended on a high note with a pin in 1:05 of Izzy Renfro. Even after a solid day of wrestling, Vargas was focused on the things she said she needed to improve on.
“I think I wrestled OK,” Vargas said. “I am not in the best shape right now. I have so much room to improve before the high school season. I wrestled at Fargo. I have been going to practice. I need to get my conditioning up.
“(Vargas and Renfro) got into a good hand fight at the beginning and I think I might have slid by or she went for something and I ducked under and I had her arm up, sunk in the half (nelson) and that was it.”
Ariel Biggs (125) of Fort Osage also had a great day finishing at 4-1 and ended her day with a pin of Megan Vasquez in 1:53.
“I feel great,” Biggs said. “I have an amazing team and amazing coaches who have really set me up for success. My sweep singles were working well for me. It’s my right hand move and maybe my wing (was working well).”
Other Midwest Elite wrestlers to finish with a winning record were Brielynn Jackson (105) at 4-1, Zainab Albadri (110) at 4-1, Alyssa Salamie (115) at 4-1, Ava Rife (120) at 4-1, Kamryn Bourbon (155) at 4-1 and Temperance Wilson (170).
Wilson ended her day with a pin of Alexis Chavez in 1:45.
“I felt like I did pretty good,” Wilson said. “There was one match that I lost that I thought I could have done better. I think I did pretty good not letting her control the match. I got to my underhooks and body locks.”
Missouri Outlaws pink had six wrestlers finish with a winning record including Remi Downing (95, 5-0) Farynn Rees (105, 3-2), Mya Woolridge (110, 4-1), Anh Ngo (115, 4-1), Piper Weaver (125, 4-1) and Temperance Lowe (130, 4-1).
