by Marianne Gasaway
Olivia Fausnaugh has become Clear Lake’s first wrestler to quality for the inaugural Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s State Tournament.
The senior punched her ticket to State by earning third place in the 155-pound weight class at the Region 8 competition held Saturday at Luther College in Decorah.
“Coming into the season, I had a goal of going to State and I put in the work outside of practice to make it happen so I’m pretty excited,” said Fausnaugh. “I told the girls at the on the team at the beginning of the year that all these meets are to prepare us for Regionals. We all improved all season and did our best at Regionals.”
Fausnaugh advanced to the semi-finals with a pin and major decision over wrestlers from Dubuque Senior and Waukon, but lost to number one seed Trinity Rotgers, from AGWSR, and had to work her way back on the backside of the bracket with a pin to face the number two seeded wrestler. Paige Howieson, from Dubuque Hempstead, pinned her in the second period.
“Olivia wrestled tough and had a great day,” said Coach Ray McQueen. “She was excited especially knowing that she’s the first girl at Clear Lake to qualify for state. She knows that the work isn’t done yet and getting ready for state Thursday.”
Clear Lake’s Emery Hippen fought her way to within one match of qualifying for State.
After losing in the quarters, the 140-pounder beat her next three opponents. She found herself down 3-7 against Annabel Blanchard from Dubuque Hempstead, but rallied back and beat her, 8-7. After falling short in her next match, there was no wrestle backs since she had previously lost to both girls. She placed fifth.
“All of the girls wrestled tough,” said Coach McQueen. “When it came down to it, it was experience that beat us, but I constantly tell the girls not to use it as an excuse for why they lost. Each of them gave it their best and it’s all I ask as a coach.”
Region 8 featured 20 teams, largely from northeast Iowa.
Region 8 matches
All CL wrestlers received a first round bye
105: Champ. Round 2 – Shaelyn Ulrich (CL) over Amia Yaklich (Wahlert) (Fall 1:02); Quarterfinals – Hillary Trainor (Sumner-Fredericksburg) over Ulrich (Fall 0:39); Cons. Round 5 – Alexis Kolbet (Osage) over Ulrich (Fall 1:56).
115: Champ. Round 2 – Dulce Lopez (Postville) over Pieper Lester (CL) (Fall 0:18); Cons. Round 2 – Lester received a bye; Cons. Round 3 – Lester over Deana Raisch (Iowa Falls-Alden) (Fall 1:38); Cons. Round 4 – Tegan Cavanaugh (Charles City) over Lester (Dec 9-7).
120: Champ. Round 2 – Ava McDermott (Wahlert) over Aali Martinez (CL) (Fall 1:27); Cons. Rounds 2 & 3 – Martinez received a bye; Cons. Round 4 – Lelia Wedgwood (BCLUW-SH) over Martinez (SV-1 14-9).
125: Champ. Round 2 – Rhi Youmans (CL) over Annelise Hefel (Dubuque Hempstead) (Fall 1:40); Quarterfinals – Taylor Moser (Central Community) over Youmans (Fall 3:29); Cons. Round 4 – Jada Bushaw (Waukon) over Youmans (Fall 2:36).
135: Champ. Round 2 – Ella Schares (S-F) over Emma Allie (CL) (Fall 4:31); Cons. Rounds 2 & 3 – Allie received a bye; Cons. Round 4 – Maddy Jansen (South Winneshiek) over Allie (Fall 0:36).
140: Champ. Round 2 – Emery Hippen (CL) over Taylor Borgerding (Wahlert) (Fall 0:49); Quarterfinals – Taya Hollingsworth (BCLUW-SH) over Hippen (Fall 2:00); Cons. Round 4 – Hippen over Payton Ruppert (Crestwood) (Fall 1:13); Cons. Round 5 – Hippen over Annabel Blanchard (Hempstead) (Dec 8-7); Cons. Semis – Keira Myers (NH/TV) over Hippen (Fall 3:28); 4th Place Match – Keira Myers (NH/TV) over Hippen (NC); 5th Place Match – Hippen over Kylie Blunt (CC) (Fall 4:39).
145: Champ. Round 2 – Rose Niewoehner (Crestwood) over Zoe Koontz (CL) (Fall 3:46); Cons. Rounds 2 & 3 – Koontz received a bye; Cons. Round 4 – Meghan McDonald (Wahlert) over Koontz (Fall 1:38).
155: Champ. Round 2 – Olivia Fausnaugh (CL) over Karise Benson (Dubuque Senior) (Fall 2:00); Quarterfinals – Fausnaugh over Olivia Bossom (Waukon) (MD 10-0); Semifinals – Trinity Rotgers (AGWSR) over Fausnaugh (Fall 5:41); Cons. Semis – Fausnaugh over Allie Johnson (NH/TV) (Fall 2:57); 3rd Place Match – Fausnaugh over Paige Howieson (Hempstead) (Fall 2:51).
170: Champ. Round 2 – Macey Brant (CL) over Ariana Menne (Postville) (Fall 3:16); Quarterfinals – Kloe Hemmersbach (Waukon) over Brant (Fall 0:12); Cons. Round 4 – Brant received a bye; Cons. Round 5 – Aleah Eichenberger (NH/TV) over Brant (Fall 1:54).
190: Champ. Round 2 – Abigail Gauf (Dubuque Senior) over Missy Jones (CL) (Fall 1:14); Cons. Rounds 2 & 3 – Jones received a bye; Cons. Round 4 – Addison Schenker (O) over Jones (Fall 1:05).
