SALINA — Addilyn Wacker’s hopes for a state wrestling title got off to an inauspicious start Friday at the Class 4A State Tournament.
Wacker, the top seed at 130 lbs., got an early takedown of Brooklyn Schneider for a quick 3-0 lead.
But the rest of the match was pretty much a standstill. Schneider was credited for a pair of penalty points in the waning seconds, before Wacker secured a 3-2 win.
Wacker’s second match of the day went a bit more according to plan.
The Iola sophomore controlled the match from the start, bringing home a 13-1 majority decision.
The wins secure Wacker a seat in Saturday’s semifinal round.
OH, YEAH, Iola’s Zoie Hesse was her typically dominating self, too.
Hesse made quick work of both of her opponents in the 190 lbs. bracket.
Hesse opened with a quick takedown of Isabelle Alexander of Concordia, securing a pin at 1 minute, 1 second of the first period.
Another quick takedown of Olivia Miller of Clearwater turned into a pin at the 1:28 mark to book Hesse’s ticket to the semifinals.
Hesse will face Hoisington’s Nevaeh Graves with a state championship match berth on the line.
IOLA’S other two competitors have some work to do.
In the heavyweight division, freshman Kailyn Rodriguez faced El Dorado’s Izzy Greer, who seized the upper hand early, securing a pin in 47 seconds in their opener.
The loss relegated Rodriguez to the consolation bracket, where she was to take on Taylee Williams of Perry-Lecompton.
IN BOYS action, Iola’s Kevon Loving got off to a tough start against Colton Bell of Chapman, who recorded a pair of near falls in the first period and rolled to an 18-0 technical fall victory at the 2:48 mark.
Loving was slated to face Cooper Nix of Hugoton in a consolation round later Friday.
