WAVERLY — Woodward-Granger’s Charity Mickles entered the two-day Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Girls State Wrestling Tournament with but a single win and a 13th seed.
She was competing in the 35-girl 113-pound bracket, but wrestled exceptionally well at the tourney and finished standing sixth on the final podium.
Mickles opened with a bye, then pinned 20th-seed Olivia Sowle of host Waverly-Shell Rock in 1 minute, 36 seconds. A pin, in 3:01, of Colfax-Mingo’s Danica Linn — who entered the tourney with nine victories — followed, putting Mickles in range of a podium spot.
She suffered a 7-2 loss by decision to 12th-seeded Olivia Hamma of Davenport Central, but Mickles rebounded with a pin of Ottumwa’s Emma Srayer in 5:06 before scoring a 15-2 major decision against Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln’s Hannah Raney.
Abby Lyman of Cedar Falls pinned Mickles in the consolation semifinals, setting up a rematch with Hamma, who this time scored a pin in 3:38, leaving Mickles with a 4-3 record and sixth-place finish.
Mickles will now continue to compete for W-G, largely in junior varsity action. She is the first Hawk girl to place in a state tournament.
