The Clear Lake Lion girls wrestling team was able to compete in front of its home crowd once more this season, hosting the Warhawks from West Fork.
West Fork fielded six wrestlers so it was a quick event, but the matches on the mat were well worth it.
Five weights were forfeited in favor of Clear Lake and out of six matches, the Lions won four.
Saphira (Sassy) Olsen battled Teaghan Bird in the first round at 115 pounds.
The first round came to an end as Sassy was attempting the pin, but Bird was saved by the buzzer.
In the second round, Olsen completed the pin in the second round.
At 125 pounds, the Lions fielded Pieper Lester and the Warhawks had Preslee Dickman.
Lester controlled the first round, leading Dickman 7-1 as the buzzer sounded.
In the second round, Lester started from the down position and was able to work herself into a nice spot and get the pin over Dickman in the second round.
At 145 pounds, Alexa Heflin wrestled Kaitlyn Burgen.
The first round saw no score as both girls looked for ways to take the other down.
Something clicked with Heflin and :15 seconds into the second round, Heflin had the pin.
Gracey Smith was up next for the Lions at 155 pounds and faced Jenny Ramirez.
The first round ended with no fanfare and a score of 0-0, but Smith found leverage in the second, pinning Ramirez.
At 170 pounds, Kayma Burleson battled West Fork’s Fernanda Ramirez.
The first round was exciting, as well as close, as both girls came close to pinning the other in a pretty even match, though Ramirez had the advantage at the buzzer, up 4-3.
Burleson was ultimately pinned in the second round, giving West Fork it’s first win of the night.
At 190 pounds, the Lions fielded Kendra Kruckenburg in the final match of the night.
Krukenburg faced Maren Subert and the battle went the distance. The first round saw no score and the second saw Kruckenburg fall behind 2-1.
In the third round, Subert continued to score points and would win by a 4-1 decision.
“The girls right now, they are doing amazing. It’s the little things right now that are catching us, whether it’s positioning or getting caught in things we’ve been working on,” said Lion head coach Ray McQueen. “They come into the room, work hard and if we lose a tough match, the best thing they are doing right now is asking questions.”
Constantly wanting to learn to get better is something coach McQueen is proud of.
“They are asking those questions on how they can improve and how they can go forward and win the next match,” said McQueen. “If it’s one thing that I’ve told the girls, it’s be more conditioned than the other team. If it’s one thing we are going to be it’s more conditioned.”
Being able to be back home in front of the home crowd means a lot to the team and coach McQueen.
“It’s history. History is being made. This is our second home dual meet, the crowd is coming in, people are supporting us and I hope more people in the city come to support us,” said McQueen. “It’s special, it’s just really special.”
