Lady Eagles Wrestling Team Returns Three Wrestlers To State Meet

Through the noisy din of a packed gym of spectators at the Class 1, District 3 Girls Wrestling Tournament at Buffalo High School, Lady Eagle senior wrestlers Macey Greene, Haley Brooks, and Ady Yoder recorded all-district finishes Saturday, Feb. 14.

Greene took the title in the 110-pound weight class as Brooks and Yoder each wrestled to fourth-place all-district finishes to make the top-four cutoff for state meet qualifications as the “Three Amigos” represent the Holden girls wrestling program’s first-ever four-time state meet qualifiers.

The Holden Lady Eagles team of 12 wrestlers competing on the day turned in a ninth-place finish among the 38 teams competing.

“It was a difficult district and hard road for any of our girls to travel for qualification,” said Holden girls wrestling coach Ron Franklin. “The most any team qualified was four wrestlers, so I should be happy to have our three qualifiers.”
Greene swept to the first-place match in the 110-pound weight class with three straight wins.

In the title match, Greene defeated Warsaw wrestler Izabella Schierholz by decision in a final score of 11-5.

“I knew I was capable of winning my bracket, but honestly, I was more worried about my health and being able to make it through,” said Greene after securing her fourth all-district finish of her career. “I haven’t been feeling good, whatsoever lately. I was more focused on feeling good and being confident and trusting my body that I was going to be able to work through hard matches like that. I’m just glad I was able to.”

Greene’s early-round wins were all won by pin with two of those matches lasting less than a minute as she topped her last three runner-up finishes by clinching a district title in her final district tournament.

“The first-place match was the only match that went more than the first period, so that was definitely the hardest one and I knew it would be,” said Greene.

Competing in the 130-pound bracket, Yoder recorded two wins by pin before taking a setback in the championship semifinals to move to the backside of the bracket.

Facing elimination in the consolation semifinals, Yoder recorded a win by pin to secure a spot in the third-place match and a guaranteed top-four finish to qualify for the state championships.

“My highlight was just winning my bubble match…just try to stay alive,” said Yoder.

In the third-place match, Yoder lost by pin to Buffalo wrestler Makayla Altic.

Yoder’s fourth-place finish follows a fourth-place district finish her freshman season, a district title during her sophomore season, and a runner-up finish during her junior year season.

“I wanted to make it out again, and my main goal was to make it to state for the fourth time, for the last time that I could make it, and I’m just really glad that I have Macey and Haley by my side through it all again for one last ride,” said Yoder.
Brooks took three straight wins by pin in the 120-pound bracket before suffering a loss by pin in the championship semifinals.

Brooks responded by recording a win by pin in the consolation semifinals to earn a spot in the third-place match.
Competing in the third-place medal match, Brooks fell by major decision to Odessa wrestler Aalyiah Sanders.

With the fourth-place finish, Brooks returns to the state championships for the fourth straight season after recording district titles during her first three seasons.

Adding to Holden’s team showing, senior Bobbie Diibon who went 2-2 in the 155-pound weight class with her two wins coming by pin in her final district tournament.

Sophomore Taylor Hubbard finished the tournament with a record of 2-2 in her matches in the 170-pound weight class with one win by pin and one win by decision.

Sophomore Hayden Wright at 105 pounds, and freshman McKenna Hartsell at 100 pounds both went 2-2 in their district matches.

Junior Mila Turpin at 125 pounds recorded a win by pin on the backside of her bracket before suffering her second loss in the double elimination tournament, finishing with a record of 1-2.

Freshman Penny Caldwell recorded a win by major decision on the backside of the 145-pound bracket after a first-round loss. A loss by pin ended her freshman season district run.

Freshman Nevaeh Dick went 1-2 in the 135-pound bracket with her win coming by pin.

Freshmen Addi Brooks at 115 pounds, and Layla Seiz at 140 pounds each went 0-2 in the tournament.

“It was a difficult second day like it always is, but a lot of the younger girls were able to experience a true high-pressure qualifying tournament in high school,” said coach Franklin.

For Greene, Yoder, and Brooks, the all-district finishes return the trio to the state championships to close out their senior seasons on the mats in Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

“It wouldn’t be the same without them,” said Greene in regard to Yoder and Brooks. “Three Amigos every time at state, it’s been like that all four years. It’s got to be like that, so every year we do it together and we do everything together. It’s great to be going back together for our senior year one last time.”

The Girls Class 1 Wrestling Championships are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Thursday, Feb. 26 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.