By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
OZARK — Mabel Rogers can’t say she saw this coming. The Republic freshman will enter the Class 2 State Tournament undefeated.
She improved to 38-0 by recording a pin in 2:44 over Branson’s Alyssa Salemie (29-3) to earn the 115-pound championship in Class 2 District 3 action Saturday.
Rogers was asked how she would have responded if told last summer that she would be unbeaten to this point.
“I would have thought, ‘Woo hoo, that’s crazy (and) I wish,’” she said. “I was nervous going into the season. I knew there were going to be older and better girls. I’ve proved to myself that age and strength don’t matter, that it’s about mentality and technique. That’s what has worked for me.”
Rogers and Salemie, who was a state runner-up as a freshman a year ago, are long-time acquaintances and friends.
“I used to train with her a lot before we split ways,” Rogers said. “I would go over to her club at Terminator and then she would come over to Drury, where I train. Then, we got ready for the season.”
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Rogers won a 12-3 major decision in her only other match against Salemie during a dual at Branson in mid-December.
“This was an improvement,” Rogers said. “I feel I’ve gotten better.”
Rogers will try to become the Lady Tigers’ first state champion.
“If I could be the first one, that would be insane,” she said. “My heart would be glowing everywhere.”
Republic’s Savannah Bratten repeated as a district champ. Bratten (26-1) recorded a pin in 4:23 against Ozark’s Hannah Maskrod (40-6) in the 125 title tilt.
Lady Chiefs’ Herrera keeps perfect record intact
Kickapoo’s Hannah Herrera upped her record to 42-0 while taking the 105 championship. She won by injury default against Belton’s Jackie Penaloza (29-10) in the final round.
It wasn’t how Herrera wanted to win.
“100 percent (disappointed),” she said. “I was so ready for this final match, you don’t even know. I wrestled her at (the Kinloch Classic) and beat her. But she’s a good wrestler and I wanted to wrestle her again.”
Knowing how hard she’s worked to this point, Herrera isn’t surprised to be going to state undefeated.
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“That’s been the plan since last year,” she said. “I started getting to work to make this season how it has been so far. I’ve put everything into it. Before, I wasn’t going to extra practices or going on those extra-long runs. This year, you can see that the extra work is paying off.”
Herrera is determined to earn a spot alongside Wendy Riley-Washington as Lady Chiefs state champions on a banner hanging in the Kickapoo wrestling room.
“I want my name to be right next to hers,” Herrera said. “Every day, I look up at the banner and picture my name on it.
“I feel pretty confident,” she added. “There are a couple girls ranked higher (by MissouriWrestling.com) than me, but rankings don’t matter. What matters is what you do on the mat.”
Willard’s Moore, Brixey and Kirksey claim titles
Willard’s Harmony Moore (36-4) pinned Nixa’s Avery Muniz (38-8) in the 190 final. That was also the outcome when they met at the COC Tournament two weeks ago.
Their rematch was far more competitive than their first meeting. Moore won by pin in 1:47 at the COC Tournament. This time around, she won by fall in 5:28, after they were tied at 6-all.
A drop-spin set Moore up for her pin Saturday.
“When someone is strong like her it takes me a while to get them down to the mat with (a drop-spin,” Moore said. “It takes me a while to get them tired and get them down with it. It was very obvious she was tired by her face and how she was wrestling.”
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Moore took Muniz to the mat by grabbing at her left arm.
“Usually, I do it on (the right arm), but she was very good at blocking that side and keeping her elbow down,” Moore said. “(The left) side was a little open, so I focused on that side.”
Moore was happy to get high-quality mat time.
“I usually get pinned soon when I lose or get a pin soon,” she said. “I really like having those full six-minute fights and this was a very tough match.”
The Lady Tigers’ Chloe Kirksey (31-7) posted a pin in 4:14 against Nixa’s Elaina Goodnight (36-11) in the 100 title tilt.
Willard’s Emily Brixey (37-3) took the 170 title by pinning Republic’s Aara Shade (29-12) in 1:21.
James takes 140 championship with first-period fall
Carthage’s Kaylee James (47-1) repeated as a district champ by pinning Webb City’s Sierra Devore (32-8) in 1:14 in the 140 final.
James wasn’t planning on attacking Devore’s legs, but shot on her with success.
“I was planning on snapping a lot more and being heavy-handed,” James said. “I did well with my hands. But I’m a shooter, that’s what I love the most and it’s my natural strength.”
James, who was second at state at 130 as a freshman last year, will return to state with an 82-3 career record.
Carthage’s Irish Lee (44-7), who was fourth at 140 at state last year, finished third at 145.
Lady Falcons’ Hiteshaw makes history
Glendale’s Alilia Hiteshaw became the Lady Falcons’ first state qualifier by finishing third at 110.
“I should have an impact on the school now because I’m the first one. I feel this will influence more girls to wrestle,” she said.
Hiteshaw (24-9) clinched her state berth by pinning Kickapoo’s Natalie Hernandez in 1:24 in their bubble match. Hiteshaw went on to pin Ray-Pec’s Charli Ross in 2:34 in their third-place match.
“I was like, ‘Wow, I made it, after all this time,’” Hiteshaw said. “I’d been trying and trying every year and hadn’t made it. To finally make it, I’m very proud of myself. I feel like I’m representing my school nicely.
“(Taking third) made me even more happy because I wasn’t satisfied,” she added. “I’m so excited to have more opportunities at state.”
Hiteshaw is the second member of her family to be a state-qualifier. Her older brother, Bradley, finished sixth at state for Glendale in 2022. Alilia has carried her wrestling gear in Bradley’s backpack all season, but she’ll leave it at home when she goes to state.
“Now, I get my own bag, and my coach said it could be pink,” she said.
Lady Eagles three-peat as champs
Nixa three-peated as District team champs by collecting 206.5 points, 52.5 points ahead of runner-up Willard.
The Lady Eagles’ individual champs included Ashton Mayes, Addison Harkins and Kamryn Bourbon.
Mayes (32-9) won the 110 title by injury default. She posted three pins on her way to the final.
Harkins (40-3), a defending state champ, picked up a 4-3 win in the 130 title tilt over Willard’s Scout Puryear (42-4). Harkins avenged a 16-10 loss to Puryear at the COC Tournament two weeks ago, thanks to a takedown in the final seconds.
Bourbon (43-3) recorded a 15-7 major decision win against Belton’s Aryana Roberts (38-13) in the 145 final.
Waynesville’s Brown wins another 135 championship
Backing up her COC Tournament title, Waynesville’s Addi Brown won the 135 championship Saturday by injury default.
Brown won in 5:29 against Nixa’s Brylee James.
Yellowjackets’ Quinn dominant 235 champion
Lebanon’s Sophia Quinn (37-2) had the fastest pin in the championship matches. She pinned Belton’s Malena Borja (38-18) in 1:06.
Quinn had first-period pins in all four of her wins.
