CORALVILLE, Iowa — Three Perry wrestlers competed in the second day of the IWCOA girls state wrestling tournament.
Freshman Chelsea Mickles finished sixth at 190 pounds, with fellow frosh Reese Baxter seventh at 220 while junior Taylor Atwell was stopped one win shy of the podium at 115 pounds.
Jayette grapplers Mercedes Ponce (105), Charity Mickles (120), Amy Aguirre-Eugenio (125), Martha Turrado (130) and Julie Maylum (135) were also in action, but unable to advance to Saturday’s competition.
Perry head coach Chris Dardanes had nothing but praise for the eight Jayettes who competed at the two-day event.
“Our girls fought every second of every match and not just on the mat,” Dardanes said. “They were always matside cheering each other on, which shows the kind of team we have. There was tremendous support from the parents and the friends, too.”
Mickles lost by fall in the quarterfinals, then won a 10-6 decision over Kaylee Nachtogel (15-5) of Spencer before pinning Bayley Hawkins (7-8) of Muscatine in 1 minute, 15 seconds. Consecutive losses by fall, the last coming to Grace Gray (11-4) of Ankeny Centennial, left the Jayette freshman with sixth place.
Baxter also lost by fall in the quarterfinals, but then recorded a pin, in 1:34, of Emma Cook (14-3) of Colfax-Mingo. A loss by fall followed, but Baxter bounced back to pin WACO’s Bralyn Wagler (5-14) in just 26 seconds to finish her first trip to the state tourney with seventh place.
Atwell was 4-1 Friday and opened Saturday with a pin, in 1:50, of Sierra Hansmeier (10-8) of Crestwood. She was stopped, by fall, by Layla Ewing (10-2) of Moravia, just missing a chance at the podium.
