By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Becca Waterman gained further appreciation for the Parkview Lady Viking Holiday Classic, along with the tourney’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award Wednesday.
Competing on her own mat, the Parkview senior recorded five pins in her five matches to win the 100-pound championship.
“This has been four years in the making,” Waterman said. “I’ve been in this tournament since the beginning. It’s awesome we get to host this tournament. I’ve seen it grow so much throughout the years. It’s a great meet. It’s been a challenge for me every year.”
Waterman repeated as a champion and was happy to earn each win. She’s been through too many tournaments in which she had more byes than wins.
“My first year (at the Lady Viking Classic), I think I had two matches,” Waterman said. “There were eight or nine girls in my bracket today. It was the first time I had five matches in this tournament.”
Waterman, who improved to 10-2 on the season, pinned four of her opponents in the first period. She was forced to the third period by El Dorado Springs’ Kaiden Conrad, before pinning her in 5:00.
Conrad was 16-0 entering the match.
Waterman was pleasantly surprised to receive the Most Outstanding Wrestler award.
“I knew there was one coach who voted for me, but I didn’t have any idea,” she said. “I’m really excited to get it.”
Looking ahead, Waterman is motivated to see Camdenton’s Abigail Fuglsang as many as three more times this season. Fuglsang, a state runner-up last year, has handed Waterman both of her losses this season.
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“I’ve gotten better each time,” Waterman said. “It’s so nice to have her (in southwest Missouri) because she gives me the best competition I can see in the state.
I’ll see her at conference, I’ll see her at Districts and I’ll see her at State. It will take everything for me (to beat her). I’m excited for the challenge.”
Ozark’s Tsaruk completes turnaround
Ozark’s Angelika Tsaruk picked up four falls in her four matches to take the 125-pound title. But she endured quite a close call in her semifinal match against Holden’s MaReya May.
Tsaruk put May on her back in the second period, after spending the final moments of the first period on her back.
“I had a close call, but I stuck through it,” Tsaruk said. “I just barely had my shoulder off the mat. I was there for a long time, probably 30 seconds or more. It felt like the whole period.
“From there, I had support from my team,” she added. “I got (May) in a head-and-arm, which is what she had got me into, and I pinned her.”
Tsaruk upped her record to 16-5.
Davis surprises herself with title
West Plains’ Nikeshia Davis captured the 130-pound championship by edging Holden’s Tasia Lee 6-4 in their title tilt.
“It was a very good match. She wouldn’t let me pin her. She’s very good,” Davis said.”I was surprised I came out on top. I was surprised I could stay on top of her hips. But I did it. I worked hard for that match. I went after it and got it.”
Going the distance made Davis’ championship particularly fulfilling. She felt it showcased her improved endurance.
“We have a strength and conditioning coach and he works us really hard,” Davis said. “Last year, we didn’t have a strength and conditioning coach. We didn’t focus on (conditioning). I built up my gas tank a lot over the summer and it’s made a huge difference. Usually, if you don’t get gassed, you’ve got the match.”
Davis is 22-2 after being 18-9 last year. She’s found increased success while not worrying herself about her competition.
“I don’t look at the person I wrestle anymore, so I don’t get anxious,” she said. “I kind of just go with the flow. I get on the mat and wrestle whoever I have to wrestle.”
Monett, Central, Rolla have winners
Monett’s Mary Jatsal won at 105 by pinning Hillcrest’s Ja’Miyah Johnson in 3:45. Jatsal improved to 19-3.
Central’s Jaidyn Pohlsander pinned El Dorado Springs’ Aleah Conrad in 1:52 in the 110 final. Pohlsander is 19-2.
Rolla’s Gabby Voshell pinned Ozark’s Delaney Cardin in :58 in the 145 final. Voshell is 13-4.
