Lady Cougar Wrestling Trio Ends Seasons at Districts
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By Will Johnson
SPECIAL TO THE EDINA SENTINEL
In just their second year of the program’s existence, Highland’s Lady Cougars sent three wrestlers to the district tournament at Mexico in sophomore Claire Wiskirchen at 100 pounds, sophomore Alicia Eaton at 125 pounds and junior Raygan Mayes at 135 pounds.
Wiskirchen opened her tournament in first-round action against Centralia’s Avery Adams looking to avenge a loss by fall earlier in the season.
Pinned in :24, Wiskirchen was sent to the consolation side of the bracket where she drew a bye to the second round and a bout with Kirksville’s Kayleigh Kottwitz.
Winning an 8-3 decision, Wiskirchen advanced to day two of the tournament Saturday morning and a third-round consolation bout against St. Charles West’s Lindsay Sanchez-Ayala.
Pinned in 1:40, Wiskirchen ended her sophomore season in a Highland singlet at 6-8.
Also a sophomore, Eaton started her district tournament at 125 pounds with a first-round bout against Marceline’s Kaidynce Niemeier.
Losing by technical fall 16-1, Eaton dropped to the consolation bracket where she drew a bye to the second round of wrestle backs and a match with South Callaway’s Michaela Smith.
Pinning her Lady Bulldog opponent in :20, Eaton advanced to day two of the tournament Saturday morning and a third-round consolation bracket bout against Owensville’s Violet Lavalle.
Leading 7-5 entering the third period, Eaton chose to start on bottom.
Earning a one-point escape, she led 8-5 before being taken down with :51 for the match and eventually pinned in 4:25 ending her sophomore season at 6-9.
Mayes opened her district tournament at 135 pounds with a win by fall over California’s Clara Lee in 3:36 advancing her to the second round of the championship bracket.
Pinned by Moberly’s Dana Gibbs in :41, Mayes drew a bye to the third round of the consolation bracket Saturday morning and a bout with Holt’s (Wentzville) Averie Cooper.
Trailing 3-1 entering the second period, Mayes scored a 3-point take down at the 1:28 mark of the second before going on to win the match by fall in 1:41.
Now in the fourth round of the consolation bracket, Mayes faced off against Fatima’s Draven Cole looking to keep her bid at a state berth alive.
Battling through a scoreless first period, Mayes was taken down late in the second before being pinned in 2:58 ending her junior season of HHS wrestling at 7-11.
“I’m proud of our girls for competing so hard in such a tough district,” Lady Cougar head wrestling coach Nichole Wiskirchen said. “It was great seeing all three girls get at least one win during districts and I’m really looking forward to next year with them having this experience under their belts.”