Douglas Miles

Your Prep Sports

CEDAR RAPIDS – The day started a bit rough for Erin Anderson.

The City High senior entered Friday’s girls’ wrestling regional meet with an ailing knee.

To make matters worse, she arrived at Cedar Rapids’ Alliant Energy PowerHouse without her knee pads.

But once she realized she was seeded second at 125 pounds and would be the recipient of a pair of first-round byes, things perked up quick.

“Gave me some time to kind of think about what I was going to do,” Anderson said. “Some time to relax. It was nice. I could watch kind of what I thought what other people were going to do and figure out what I needed to do in that case.”

Anderson (21-7) used the extra preparation to adjust to the environment and post a pair of pins before falling in the championship match to Bettendorf’s Qendresa Selmani.

The runner-up finish earned City High the first of its three state qualifiers.

“Just talking to other girls here, it is so exciting to see how excited everybody is for it,” Anderson said. “And the work that people are putting into it to make it a big event is so awesome.”

This is just the second year of wrestling for Anderson.

Primarily a track and cross country competitor, she decided to try wrestling “kind of as a joke” along with friend and teammate Sydney Wilkes and since the City High girls’ wrestling team is coached by Ryan Ahlers, who also coaches the girls’ cross country team, it felt comfortable. Then it felt fun.

“Cross country runners really don’t seem like the wrestling type,” Anderson said. “We really liked it, so we stayed. It is so much more about you and your opponent on the mat and it is just you two.”

City High finished tied for ninth place in the Region 5 team standings with 92 points.

The top-four place winners at each weight in each of eight regional meets across the state qualify for the first-ever state meet sanctioned by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Joining Anderson from City High is freshman Molly Carlson (16-18), who pinned her way through four consolation matches and earned third place at 155 pounds.

City High senior Claire Brown matched Anderson’s runner-up finish with one of her own at 130 pounds.

Brown pinned three opponents in the championship bracket before losing the title match to Bettendorf’s Alexys Petersen.

“It is definitely an accomplishment,” Brown said. “Especially because when you look back on it, this will always be one of the first times, which no one else will be able to do.”

Like Anderson, Brown is a newcomer to the sport.

After competing for the first time last year in its final season as an unsanctioned sport, Brown debated on whether to return to the mat for her senior season.

“I think I would have regretted later in my life if I didn’t do it,” Brown said.

She was concerned that her lack of training between seasons would be a detriment against girls who participate year-round.

Instead, she won 21 of 25 matches and proudly joins the first group of competitors at an historic state meet Thursday and Friday at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

“Not having done anything over the summer, I thought that everyone was just going to be so much better,” Brown said. “Because it is an actual sport and people do it all the time. But to be in there with everyone else is definitely shocking.”

West High will have one participant at the state meet after senior Jannell Avila (27-2) placed second at 155 pounds.

“It means a lot,” Avila said. “I am super-excited to still be here. I know a lot of those girls that graduated in the past. I really want this for them. I am looking forward to putting on a show for everybody and doing my best thing.”

Avila started wrestling six years ago when her family lived in Las Vegas.

A year later, the family moved to Iowa and Avila continued competing at the youth level.

As a freshman, she won her bracket at the unsanctioned state meet.

At the regional met, Avila posted two pins before suffering just her second loss this season via a 2-0 decision to East Buchanan’s Keeley Kehrli in the championship match.

“Definitely looking to get that match back and be on top of that podium this year,” Avila said. “This is not what I want to feel like at the end.”

Liberty High finished seventh in the Region 6 team standings with 92 points and qualified a pair of individuals for the state meet, both of which finished fourth in their respective brackets.

At 145 pounds, freshman Evelyn Eggleston (19-17) pinned her way through three rounds of the consolation bracket before falling to Tayla Stiefel of East Buchanan in the third-place match.

Eggleston will be joined in Coralville by fellow freshman Taylor Cavanh (17-16), whose narrow 5-4 decision over Wilton’s Audrey Cummings in the consolation bracket proved vital when both were later up for fourth place and the state berth.

By virtue of the earlier win, Cavanh was given the nod.

“It is just like the best feeling in the world,” said Cavanh, who is in her first year in the sport after focusing on volleyball, horse riding and showing dairy goats in years past. “I can’t believe I have made it this far. I can’t wait to wrestle at state. I am beyond grateful for all my coaches and the opportunities I have been given.”

Region 5 Meet

At Alliant Energy PowerHouse

Team scores – 1. Bettendorf 217.5; 2. Linn-Mar 177; 3. Independence 159; 4. Mid-Prairie 152; 5. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 146; 6. West Liberty 144; 7. North Scott 113; 8. Mount Vernon 108; 9. Davenport 92; 9. City High 92; 11. Tipton 88; 12. Cedar Rapids Jefferson 85; 13. Fort Madison 78; 14. WACO 77; 15. Highland 59; 16. Benton Community 55; 17. Mount Pleasant 50; 18. Wapello 37; 19. Midland 34; 20. Washington 27; 21. Durant 22; 22. Davenport Assumption 11; 23. Maquoketa 5; 24. Belle Plaine 4; 24. Camanche 4

Championship matches; state qualifiers  

100 – 1. Hailey Kemper (FM) pinned Gabi Robertson (M-P) 4:59; 3. Koda Fogg (TIP); 4. Abigail Kennis (BET)

105 – 1. Taylor Strief (BET) pinned Lainey Shelangoski (DUR) :46; 3. Ella McNamee (MP); 4. Madi Lundvall (WAP)

110 – 1. Kate Seery (L-M) dec. Rylee Rice (WAC) 14-9; 3. Morgan Krall (IND); 4. Alissa Sanchez (WL)

115 – 1. Silvia Garcia-Vasquez (WL) pinned Lauren Rogalla (BET) :38; 3. Angelina Roling (HIG); 4. Alyssa Eckhardt (MID)

120 – 1. Ally Jelinek (L-M) medical forfeit Khylie Wainwright (NS); 3. Jadalynn Daily (DAV); 4. Isabella Giza (BET)

125 – 1. Qendresa Selmani (BET) pinned Erin Anderson (ICH) 3:07; 3. Reese Roberts (L-M); 4. Kiley Collins (WL)

130 – 1. Alexys Petersen (BET) pinned Claire Brown (ICH) 1:22; 3. Becca Hinderaker (TIP); 4. Ava Hofer (L-M)

135 – 1. Dakota Whitman (IND) pinned Ellie Brenneman (M-P) 1:09; 3. Lizzy Wolf (BC); 4. Jacie Bedell (CRK)

140 – 1. Haley Setrum (L-M) major dec. Nellie Stagg (WL) 11-3; 3. Grace Conway (M-P); 4. Josephine Budederi (CRJ)

145 – 1. Dionni Garcia-Vasquez (WL) dec. Greta Brus (DAV) 6-2; 3. Mia Garvey (M-P); 4. Havana Griffith (IND)

155 – 1. Jorie Hanenburg (NS) pinned Teegan Sulentich (WAS) 1:09; 3. Molly Carlson (ICH); 4. Gracie Pickney (MV)

170 – 1. Libby Dix (MV) pinned Izzy Strickert (IND) 3:11; 3. Ellie Callahan (M-P); 4. Jessa DeMoss (BC)

190 – 1. Ella Brown (CRK) dec. Rachel Eddy (IND) 4-0; 3. Amerie Alvarado (WL); 4. Grace Fort (WAC)

235 – 1. Trinity Young (L-M) pinned Bralyyn Wagler (WAC) 3:40; 3. Madison Andrews (NS); 4. Aly Lashley (MV)

Region 6 Meet

At Alliant Energy PowerHouse

Team scores – 1. Waverly-Shell Rock 254; 2. East Buchanan 241; 3. Cedar Rapids Prairie 166; 4. Vinton-Shellsburg 161; 5. Solon 136; 6. Iowa Valley 107; 7. Liberty High 92; 8. Clinton 86; 9. Wilton 81; 10. Marion 78; 11. Pleasant Valley 77; 12. Clear Creek Amana 75; 13. Central DeWitt 66; 14. Louisa-Muscatine 65; 15. West High 54; 16. West Branch 50; 17. Muscatine 38; 17. Pekin 38; 19. Keokuk 25; 20. English Valleys-Tri County 13; 21. Columbus 12; 22. Cedar Rapids Washington 9; 22. Burlington Notre Dame 9

Championship matches; state qualifiers  

100 – 1. Mya Rausch (CRP) dec. Amber Hoth (W-SR) 3-2; 3. Wynter Morgan (MAR); 4. Taylor Cavanh (ICL)

105 – 1. McKenna Rogers (SOL) pinned Macy Tiedt (W-SR) 1:51; 3. Valeria Torres (EB); 4. Emma Gillen (V-S)

110 – 1. Bree Swenson (V-S) dec. Emmersen Thomas (WB) 4-0; 3. Kara VeDepo (SOL); 4. Marlie McBride (CCA)

115 – 1. Caitlin Reiter (PV) dec. Ellie Weets (V-S) 5-1; 3. Natalie Hedlund (MAR); 4. Callia Logan (CLI)

120 – 1. Abigail Meyrer (PV) pinned Brinley Meier (W-SR) 1:26; 3. Emma Descourouez (CCA); 4. Grace Patterson (CD)

125 – 1. Mackenzie Childers (CRP) pinned Hannah Rogers (WIL) 1:59; 3. Eva Heise (W-SR); 4. Kily Castillo (MUS)

130 – 1. Chloe Sanders (V-S) major dec. Destiny Krum (EB) 9-0; 3. Lilly Stouh (W-SR); 4. Kaly Thomas (CCA)

135 – 1. Miley Walz (EB) pinned Kiley Langley (WIL) 2:54; 3. Olivia Bonnema (SOL); 4. Lila Miller (PEK)

140 – 1. Kiara Djoumessi (W-SR) pinned Andelyn Cabalka (EB) 1:24; 3. Kaydence Boorn (WIL); 4. Jade Hynek (CRP)

145 – 1. Emma Peach (IV) pinned Haidyn Snyder (W-SR) 2:29; 3. Tayla Stiefel (EB); 4. Evelyn Eggleston (ICL)

155 – 1. Keeley Kehrli (EB) dec. Jannell Avila (ICW) 2-0; 3. Erika Brokovich (CRP); 4. Jalyiah Gardner (KEO)

170 – 1. Brooklyn Graham (EB) pinned Teagyn Hartz (WB) 5:09; 3. Karissa Oldenburger (W-SR); 4. Justyce Dominick (V-S)

190 – 1. Breanna Peach (IV) pinned Alyson Krum (EB) 3:22; 3. Chloe Heefner (CRP); 4. Arie Russell (CLI)

235 – 1. Madison Hinrichs (W-SR) pinned Averyia Binnion (CD) 2:50; 3. Cambrie Mcloyd (CLI); 4. Molly Bramble (L-M)

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