CORALVILLE 

The recent growth of Iowa high school girls wrestling was on full display this past week at the Xtream Arena in Coralville when the second IGHSAU girls state wrestling kicked off with a sold-out day one crowd. 

This state tournament was a two-day event from Feb. 1-2, and over 400 high school girls entered the arena with the goal of becoming a champion on their mind. 

Among all the participants Mid-Prairie had three Golden Hawks competing and Highland was represented by one wrestler.   

Highland results 

Similar to last year, senior Angelina Roling was Highland’s lone wrestler at state. 

One difference to note is, as a junior, Roling wrestled at state in the 115 lbs bracket but this time around she competed in the 110 lbs bracket. 

In her first match she faced off against Audra Cross of Wilton. This match belonged to Cross as she defeated Roling by fall in 2:26. This loss sent Roling to the consolation bracket where one more loss meant the end of her tournament run. 

Not ready to go home Roling earned her first victory at state in the Cons. Round 1, where she defeated Spirit Lake Park’s Audrina Bennet by fall in 1:02. 

Earning the opportunity to continue to wrestle, Roling faced a daunting opponent in the next round, No. 9 ranked Nora Bockes of Akeny

In a spirited matchup that almost went the distance, Bockes collected enough points to defeat Roling by major decision, 9-1, in the third period. 

With this loss, Roling’s time at state concluded on day one. Going 1-2 at state, she ends her senior year with a 24-7 record, three wins better and six losses less than last year. 

Mid-Prairie results 

The trio of Ashlee Farrier, Ellie Brenneman, and Ellie Callahan are the three Golden Hawk gals who represented Mid-Prairie at state this year and all of them entered with previous state experience. 

  Brenneman, a three-time state qualifier, competed in the 135 lbs bracket and began the day with a win by fall in 1:53 over Bettendorf’s Morgan Streif. This win set up a second round matchup against No. 8 ranked Bella Mulder of Dallas Center-Grimes. 

Earning an upset win, Brenneman defeated Mulder by fall in 3:35 to advance to the quarterfinals. It was a come from behind victory for Brenneman as she was trailing in points going into the second period before she was able to pin Mulder. 

Going from one Bella to another, Brenneman faced Wahlert, Dubuque’s Bella Miller in the quarterfinal round. In a quick match Miller defeated Brenneman by fall in 39 seconds. This loss concluded day one for Brenneman who was sent to the consolation bracket. 

On day two Brenneman ended her season with a loss by fall in 2:12 to Kaydence Boorn of Wilton. Going 2-2 at state she ends her senior year with a 29-13 record. 

Competing in the 130 lbs bracket, Farrier, a two-time state qualifier, wrestled in four matches on day one, the most among her two teammates. 

Taking on No. 7 ranked Brielle Parke of Linn-Mar in her first match at state, Farrier won by fall in 1:26. Continuing to battle ranked opponents, Farrier faced off against No. 1 ranked Mackenzie Childers of CR Prairie. 

Not backing down from the challenge, Farrier avoided getting pinned, but went into the third period facing a 7-1 deficit. In the final period Childers collected three points, from an escape and a takedown, to end the match and win by major decision over Farrier , 10-1. 

Rebounding from the loss, Farrier made quick work of Mayleigh Medberry of Central Community, Elkader, winning by fall in 49 seconds. 

With a chance to continue to wrestle on day two on the line, Farrier wrestled a physically grueling match against Kallie Gibbons of Mason City.

With the score tied at 1-1 after three periods, this match eventually went into its third overtime period. Both Farrier and Gibbons fought valiantly and when it was all said and done Gibbons was the victor, winning the match in a tie breaker, 2-1. 

Going 2-2 at state, Farrier ends her junior season with a 28-6 record,

Callahan, a two-time state qualifier, began her state run in the 170 lbs bracket against No. 2 ranked Grace Britten of S.W.A.T. Valkyrie. Britten collected a win by fall in 1:06 to send Callahan to the consolation bracket. 

In her first consolation match, Callahan collected a win by decision, 7-5, over Ridge View’s Daynia Werner. This was a close match with Werner holding onto a 5-2 lead going into the third period. In the final period Callahan scored a takedown and positioned herself to score three more points by nearfall for the rest of the match to take the win. 

The victory against Werner was a bit of retribution for Callahan since last year, at the very same state tournament, Werner defeated Callahan by fall. 

Callahan’s final match at state was against Raelene Hawkins of Iowa Valley, Marengo. Hawkins won by fall in 4:27. Going 1-2 at state, Callahan ends her sophomore season with a 23-16 record.