Strength in numbers.
With 10 wrestlers, Windsor had the largest of the six teams at the Jefferson County Activities Association girls wrestling tournament Jan. 10 at De Soto, and the Owls parlayed that into their first conference championship in the sport.
Girls wrestling in Missouri, in its sixth year, is still a growing sport and most schools can’t fill all 14 weight classes. Festus entered seven wrestlers at De Soto and gave Windsor a run for its money, taking second with 125 points, five behind the Owls.
Led by senior state medalist Ella Bradley, the host Dragons were third with 114, followed by Hillsboro (70), Herculaneum (53) and St. Pius X (51).
“I’m super-proud of them,” Windsor girls head coach Ryan Nuspl said, clutching the trophy. “They worked really hard all season long. We had some ups and downs in the tournament, but they came out on top.
“We’re going to have to keep pushing and growing and that starts with our little league. We’re very involved with our middle school. It’s about building a culture.”
Windsor senior Delany Rapp (13-4), a state qualifier at 115 last year, won the 115-pound title at De Soto with three pins in the round-robin format. Owl sophomore Sydney Streckfuss (13-9) won all three of her matches by fall to win the championship at 125.
“(Streckfuss) had a tough match against (Hillsboro sophomore Hilary Watkins) and came out on top,” Nuspl said. “I’m excited to see where she goes.”
Windsor junior Reese Ronzio (15-9) pinned all three of her opponents in the first period for the JCAA crown at 130. Two weight classes had only one entry and there weren’t any at 190. Festus junior Mya Hairston (24-1) was the only wrestler at 105 and at the other end Owl Ashley Hanson (6-7) won 235 by default.
Bradley (23-4) is the centerpiece of a young Dragon squad with a new head coach, Jill Tomlinson, and has finished third in the state the last two seasons. The team continues to look up to 2020 graduate and three-time undefeated state champion Jaycee Foeller. Bradley has stayed at the same weight (157, 155) for three years and won the JCAA title at 155 with two pins. She got a surprise from St. Pius X junior Kaydn Gottmann, who spun Bradley around for a takedown in their match.
“I was going for a throw, and got rolled through,” Bradley said. “The thing is, I get really upset when I try something other people aren’t and they score. That’s what happens when you take risks.”
Macie Tomlinson (34-4), one of the talented freshmen giving De Soto more firepower, beat St. Pius sophomore Ella Choate with a pair of first-period pins to claim the 170 title. Kya Aubuchon (third at 105), 110-pound champ Cheyenne Kinkade (34-4) and Emma Taylor (32-6, first at 120) could all finish in the top four for De Soto at the upcoming Class 1 District 1 meet.
“I’ve liked watching the freshmen on my team grow and it reminded me of when I was younger,” said Bradley who is uncommitted to a college program. “It drives me because they all have goals.”
Bradley tried dropping down to 145 this season, but said it was too unhealthy. Her state semifinal loss in Columbia last February provided all the motivation she needed to go back one more time.
“Being my senior year, my last match can be at any moment, so right now I go into every match and try my hardest,” she said. “Winning state is the ultimate goal, but my biggest fear is (if) I didn’t try hard enough.”
Fresh from her 100th career victory, at last month’s Wonder Woman tournament, Herculaneum senior Eddyson Reeves (24-3) won the JCAA 140-pound weight class with two pins, one of which came against Festus sophomore Dani Gullet (22-5) at 3:06. A transfer from Pacific, Gullet is a state medalist. Reeves had defeated her narrowly, 2-1, earlier this season.
“Eddyson had a great match against (Gullet),” Herculaneum head coach Chris Bahr said. “Last time, it was a last-second hold-on-to-win situation. Dani is a great wrestler, so we knew she was going to be tough.”
Despite being a couple of years younger, Reeves’ sister, freshman Emerson, has just as much wrestling experience, Bahr said. Emerson (23-3) had her own tough customer to deal with at 105 in Festus sophomore Addison Cupp (23-5). None of Emerson’s three opponents lasted two minutes and she pinned Cupp at 1:33.
“Emerson has a no-quit attitude,” Bahr said. “She doesn’t fear anybody. That right there is a testament to her experience and how she approaches her competitive side. She follows (wrestling online) and does a lot of her own research. That sets her apart from other wrestlers. That mental focus she has is what you love to see.”
Freshman Trinity Butler (25-5) continued her strong season for Festus with two pins and the conference crown at 135.
Hillsboro senior Alleigh Culley (20-9), one match from the state medal round last season at 155, dropped down to 145 at De Soto and won first place, pinning Festus junior Grace Dust (15-12) with 27 seconds remaining in their match.