AUGUSTA, Kan. – The Smoky Valley girls wrestling team competed at the 4A West Regional on Friday and Saturday. Nine wrestlers competed and seven wrestled through to the 4A State Tournament .
The Vikings brought home three third place finishes. At 130#, Brylie Ricketts opened with a win by fall in 0:41 over Emily Franklin of Mulvane, then defeated Sophie Jester of Augusta y a 1-0 decision. After a loss by fall to Maddie Fullerton of Wellington in the semifinals, Ricketts won two straight on the consolation side. She beat Payton Newell of Clearwater by fall in 0:43, then pinned Evellyn Farley of Clay Center in 1:10 for the third place finish.
Kate Griffin captured the bronze at 190# for Smoky Valley. After receiving a first round bye, she beat Paisley Weiszbrod of Larned by fall in 2:00. In the semifinals, she suffered a 10-1 major decision loss to Abby Brenn from Winfield. Griffin was not deterred, domination Livia Miller of Clearwater in the consolation semis, winning by fall in 3:25 and then picking up a fall in 3:26 against Faith Enger of Chapman in the third place match.
At 230#, Madison Zeller had a first round bye and then defeated Ava Rowland of Concordia by fall in 2:51. In the semis, she faced CKL rival and eventual regional champion Elizabeth Dick of Nickerson, losing by fall in 4:55. Zeller controlled the back side of the bracket, beating Amerie Hinz of Hoisington by fall in 4:12 in the consolation semis and then pinning Izzy Greer of El Dorado in 1:44 to take the bronze.
Jaycie Falcon had a strong tournament, finishing fourth at 113#. She opened with a win by fall over Bria Havel from Ulysses in 5:42, then won a 4-2 decision over Kara McQueen from McPherson in the quarters. After losing to Circle’s Alexis Wall by fall in the semis, Falcon bounced back with a win by fall in 2:07 over Landon Von Lintel of Goodland in the consolation semis. In the third place match, she fell to Liliauna Nold of Rock Creek to finish fourth.
At 135#, Roxana Riedel won her first two matches after receiving a first round bye. She finished in sixth place in the end. Gracie Brady took seventh place at 125#, beating Ali Wilcoxson of Rock Creek by fall in 1:34 in the 7th place match. Magdalene Riedel also finished in seventh place at 140# with a win over Georgia Shinliver of Wellington by fall in 3:48.
The seven wrestlers that qualified for 4A State for Smoky Valley will compete at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina February 27 and 28.
