Coach Layne Laaker and the Arlington High School girls wrestling team returned home Saturday night after a successful, two-day Class B-1 District Tournament trip to Ord.
“I thought that the girls wrestled well when it matters the most,” the coach stated. “I preach wrestling smart and we did so on the biggest stage thus far.”
Six Eagles earned state-qualifying finishes on the Chanticleers' mats, earning a district runner-up team finish. Just Yutan (169 points) outscored AHS (121) on the trip out west.
Individually, returning state medalist Kelise Krivohlavek — the only Eagle in school history with a medal — won her 120-pound bracket. The senior pinned her way through the weight class, never taking more than 73 seconds to secure a fall.
Krivohlavek enters her second state tourney 33-1 overall after the 4-0 showing. The rest of her state-qualifying teammates, however, took the more stressful route through the all-or-nothing consolation semifinals.
While Laaker said he sympathizes with Brooklyn Ruskamp, Sofie Lewis, Jaydin Allen and Evie Bottger, who fell short of a state qualification, he said the most exciting part of Arlington's district trip was its five heartbreak-round victories.
“... to have five step up with the pressure of that round and punch more tickets — it was awesome to see,” the coach stated.
Callee Shearer, Rylie Kyllo, Caitlyn Camp, Dianna Flores and Addyson Beam all won their paramount bouts to go onto state in Omaha. All five will be making their state debuts next week.
Shearer, a senior set to join the Morningside University squad next school year, secured third at 130 pounds with a 4-1 tournament record. She won her heartbreak round match by first-period fall before pinning Albion Boone Central's Annie Stepanek in 3:43 to close out her day.
Kyllo, a fourth-place finisher at 115 pounds, won her consolation semifinal by 17-0 technical fall, while Camp pinned her way into the state tournament against Franklin 155-pounder Jayden Lind.
Flores (190 pounds) and Beam (235) earned fourth in their weight classes, too. Flores secured her state spot by pin, while Beam earned a 10-0 major decision to punch her ticket.
Before the Eagles wrestle again, though, they'll put in the work at home to get ready for the NSAA State Girls Wrestling Championships.
“The next week of practice will be the same. Keep grinding and sharpening our skills,” Laaker said. “With a little bit of a smaller group, it’ll be easier to hone in on the individuals. But we’ve got some great teammates that will help push them for the next week and prepare us for what the CHI Health Center brings.”
The NSAA Championships begin 4 p.m. Feb. 18 in Omaha's largest arena. The first-time all-girls state tournament continues Wednesday at 9 a.m. with the championship finals set to start at 6:30 p.m.
NSAA CLASS B-1 DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Friday-Saturday at Ord High School
GIRLS
Top-10 team standings: Yutan 169 points, Arlington 121, Wood River 117, Albion Boone Central 103, Aurora 93, Louisville 90, Southern Valley/Arapahoe 67, Gibbon 66.5, Fillmore Central 54, Ord 50.
Arlington Results (top-4 qualify for state)
Weight, wrestler: Tourney record (overall record), place.
110 pounds, Brooklyn Ruskamp: 3-2 (14-6), NA.
115, Rylie Kyllo: 3-2 (25-11), fourth.
120, Kelise Krivohlavek: 4-0 (33-1), first.
125, Sofie Lewis: 1-2 (22-15), NA.
130, Callee Shearer: 4-1 (28-11), third.
145, Jaydin Allen: 3-2 (17-16), NA.
155, Caitlyn Camp: 3-2 (11-9), fourth.
170, Evie Bottger: 3-2 (9-9), NA.
190, Dianna Flores: 2-2 (22-12), fourth.
235, Addyson Beam: 2-2 (15-14), fourth.
