WAVERLY — Perry’s Taylor Atwell and Hailey Peterson both competed at the two-day Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Girls State Wrestling Tournament at Waverly-Shell Rock high school.
The pair were among nearly 400 entrants at the second consecutive state tourney organized by the IWCOA. The first season saw only 87 entrants, testifying to the explosive growth of the popularity of girls wrestling in Iowa.
Atwell and Peterson are the first Perry girls to compete and both entered the 106-pound bracket.
Atwell received an opening bye, then pinned Kylie Hessenius of LeMars in 2 minutes, 31 seconds and Lauren Rogalis of Bettendorf in 2:54. Seeded sixth, Atwell lost by fall to third-seed Maddie Black of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.
The loss sent Atwell into the consolation sixth round, where she was stopped, by fall, by No. 8 seed Adyson Lundquist of Southwest Valley, ending her tourney with a 2-2 mark.
Peterson also received an opening round bye, and then suffered a loss by fall to No. 9 seed Alexis Partida of West Liberty. Another bye followed, with Peterson bouncing back strong to overcome a two-point deficit and pin Waterloo West’s Victoria Knight.
A loss by fall to Cedar Falls’ Raelynn Smith bounced Peterson with a 1-2 record.
Nick Field and Mike Steele helped coach the pair at the tourney. Both will return to junior varsity action against boys (and, possibly girls) as part of the Bluejay JV squad.
