After two full days of wrestling, the four Clear Lake Lions came back with memories that will last a lifetime. The team traveled to Coralville to compete in the second year of sanctioned girls wrestling.
While there were no podium finishers in the Lions camp, Pieper Lester, wrestling at 125 pounds, made school history after upsetting Spencer’s Breanna Johnson in a close 2-1 decision to become the first girl from Clear Lake to win in the championship bracket.
Lester, boasting a 30-12 record, and Johnson, with a 35-13 record, battled for six minutes. Lester’s two points came in the first round with a take-down and the second round saw an escape by Johnson for one point. The third period ended with Lester having her hand raised in victory.
It was Jillian Worthen, of Union, that would spoil the day for the Lion sophomore, in a 12-1 major decision.
Lester would get one more win, pinning Highway 34’s Zoey Vandevender in 2 minutes.
Fort Madison’s Mara Smith defeated Lester to end her tournament run by a 10-1 major decision.
Alexa Heflin, wrestling at 145 pounds with a 35-10 record, had a tough opening match against Davenport’s Greta Brus who had one loss on the season at a 39-1 record.
Heflin was pinned after 1:37 but found success in the consolation rounds.
Heflin defeated Kerene Panya, of LeMars, pinning her in 5:07 while also defeating Nevada’s Gracie Leslie by fall, pinning her in 3:56.
Heflin’s meet came to an end against BCLUW-SH’s Taya Hollingsworth by way of pin in 3:53.
Saphira Olsen wrestled at 115 pounds with a record of 23-17 against Riverside’s Carly Henderson with a record of 44-2.
Olsen went toe-to-toe with Henderson, but fell by pin in 2:45.
Olsen then faced Saint Ansgar’s Emma Hall, falling by pin after :43 seconds, ending her tournament.
Kendra Kruckenberg, wrestling at 190 pounds with a record of 21-18, faced Kamryn Steines, of Decorah who had a record of 39-5.
Kruckenberg fell in :18 seconds by pin before facing Amerie Alvarado, of West Liberty.
Alvarado got the pin over Kruckenberg in :27 seconds, ending her tournament as well.
