Two Lady Jay Medalists at State
During the NSAA State Wrestling tournament, held on February 16-18, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, the girl wrestlers from Pierce came home with two medals.
Finishing with a fifth place medal was freshman Isabelle Kuehler, wrestling at 140. During her first round she pinned Le Nelson of Crete in 5:06. Then in the quarterfinals she pinned Marke Zeleny from Oakland-Craig in 5:21. In the semifinals, Kuehler fell to Miah Kenny from Northwest in 3:06. The consolation semifinals saw Kristen Schellenberg of Scribner-Snyder win in a 2-0 decision over Kuehler; however, Kuehler rebounded in the fifth place match by pinning Avani Wilkie from Winnebago in 1:20.
Pierce’s other medalist was junior Maggie Painter, at 125. Painter fell to Trinity Williamson of Crete in 5:38 in the first round. Then in consolation round 1, Painter won in a 6-3 decision over Suubi Alexander of North Platte. During consolation rounds 2 and 3 she pinned her opponents, Aliena Osterbuhr of Minden in 2:34 and Briannah Kutschkau of Grand Island in 3:32. In the consolation semifinals, Painter lost in a 4-3 decision to Madisen Petersen from Crofton-Bloomfield. The fifth place match saw Painter injure her elbow, losing in 1:39 to an injury default to Jaycee Bruns from Wayne.
Pierce’s other wrestlers at state were Hadleigh Collison (115) and Isabelle Skrdla (120).
Collison won in an 8-1 decision over Sarah Turner of Fillmore Central in the first round. During the quarterfinals Collison fell to Hailey Medina of Gering in 3:51. Finally in consolation round 2, Collison fell to Cheyenne Stacy of Superior in 2:34.
Skrdla fell to Aubrie Pehrson of Yutan in 1:04 in the first round. In consolation round 1, Skrdla pinned Kyra Robbins from Bridgeport in 3:39, but in consolation round 2, Skrdla fell to Asije Phelps from Sandhills Valley in 1:53.
The girls team finished the state tournament with 30 team points for a 25th place finish.
