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Wrestling is full of up and down moments. North Mahaska experienced both ends of the spectrum at the Region 1 state qualifier at Central Decatur Friday. Macie Little and Kaylia Shipman each reached the finals in their respective weight classes but lost to the champion. They then were upset in a wrestleback for second place. The top two spots go to next week’s state meet in Coralville.

Little (46-4), who came into the meet as the third-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds, received byes through the first three rounds and met Knoxville’s Brynlee Brooks in the championship semifinals and pinned her in 1 minute 26 seconds. In the finals she met up with Creston’s Karlie Kruse (33-9). Little led Kruse 7-0 after the first period and was able to hold serve until the final minute of the second period when Kruse scored a late take down. In the final period Kruse was able to make a move and pin Little in 4:50. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont’s Olivia Rupe earned the right for a wrestleback and was able to pin Little in 48 seconds for second place and a spot at state.

RD Keep/North Mahaska Communications
North Mahaska’s Macie Little works on a pin of Knoxville’s Brynlee Brooks in the Class 1A regional semifinal at 125.

Shipman (41-14) would also end up third at the meet. She had byes through the first two rounds. She pinned Gretchen Wearmouth of Martensdale-St. Marys in 2:50. Kate Kruse of EBF won by technical fall 17-2 sending Shipman into the consolation bracket. Shipman pinned Creston’s Sydney Hoffman in the consolation semifinal in 4:40 then pinned Albia’s Sophie Hemann in 2:57 to earn the shot for second place. Atlantic’s Cadence Kinzie was able to end Shipman’s season in 2:39.

NM coach Erica Groom said it was a tough end to the season and not what was expected.

“We were close, but couldn’t do it,” said Groom. “We are proud of all our girls this season. It definitely didn’t end the way any of them wanted it to. I know they will take this night and move forward with their heads high and the motivation to work hard for next year.”

One other Warhawk placed in the tournament. Lilly Briggs earned fourth place. She two had byes through the first two rounds at 110 pounds. In her quarterfinal she lost to West Central Valleys’ Elizabeth Handy in 2 minutes. Briggs had a bye in the consolation before meeting Emalee Moorman. Briggs pinned Moorman in 1:12 to advance to the consolation semifinal.

RD Keep/North Mahaska Communications
Gretchen Wearmouth goes down under North Mahaska’s Kaylia Shipman in the 115 pound in the quarterfinals of the regional tournament. Shipman earned third.

Briggs had fallen behind in scoring to Myla Nehring of Martensdale-St. Marys. Briggs made a quick move into a pinning combination to reach the third-place match. She faced Handy once again and was pinned in 5:21.
Kieren Perez had an opening round bye at 145 pounds and pinned Atlantic’s Lily Johnson. She lost by fall to Cheyenne Dike of East Union in 18 seconds then pinned Alison Leonard of Central Decatur in the consolation round before falling to EBF’s Sadie Jager in 1:51.

Participating but not winning were Addison Terpstra at 100, Madison Davis at 105 and Ruby Wallerich at 120.
EBF ran away with the team title with 254.5 points. Creston was second with 123 followed by Albia with 111. North

Mahaska placed ninth out of the 21 teams with 57 points.