By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Ozark’s Hannah Maskrod, Maelynn Sundlie and Adi Hoelzle were anxious to celebrate their Parkview Lady Viking Holiday Tournament championship with their Lady Tigers and Tigers teammates.
Maskrod, Sundlie and Hoelze won individual championships to help Ozark total 247 points and outdistance the nine-team field by 53 points.
“We try not to separate ourselves from our boys,” Maskrod said. “Our wins are our guys’ wins, too — we’re all Ozark. We’re just as much a family with our guys as we are with the girls.”
The Lady Tigers repeated as Lady Viking Holiday Tournament champions.
“It’s definitely a blessing to wear ‘Ozark’ across my shirt,” Sundlie said. “I’m very proud to be able to wear it, what we stand for and what we do.”
Maelynn’s father, Ozark coach Tod Sundlie, was pleased to see the Lady Tigers rewarded for their effort.
“We came up here expecting to win,” Sundlie said. “I know they have worked hard. It’s fun to watch them compete. You hope they step in and do what they are capable of doing. I’m proud of the overall effort. We had a lot of tough matches in the semis, but came back on the back side and took thirds.”
Sundlie, Maskrod, Hoelze claim individual titles
Sundlie tied for the tournament lead in pins with five falls in her five matches. In the 130 final, she pinned Adrianna Meneses-Lilly, of Bolivar, in 4:57.
Sundlie, who improved to 24-4, was the 135 Lady Viking Holiday Tournament champ a year ago.
Maskrod, who is 21-4, won the first tournament championship of her career by taking the 125 title. She pinned Bolivar’s Sydney Waters in 3:27.
Hoelzle moved to 20-4 by pulling out a 6-0 victory versus McDonald County’s Sheccid Gonzalez in the 105 title tilt.
Ray-Pec’s Abby Keating was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. She claimed the 155 championship with four pins in only 2:30 of mat time.
Winning comeback for Reeds Spring’s Keithley
After missing a month due to a knee injury, Reeds Spring’s Lindsey Keithley returned to the mat and claimed the 145 championship.
Keithley, who was coming back from a strained MCL, beat Nixa’s Madelynn McGinnis 13-6 in their title tilt.
“(Trainers) were thinking I wouldn’t be able to wrestle until February. I was like, ‘No, I’m going to wrestle in January,’” Keithley said. “I pushed through it and worked a little harder than maybe I was supposed to. My knee feels great. I’m not worried about hurting it again.”
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During her idle time, Keithley gained even further appreciation for the opportunity to compete.
“I’ve always thought wrestling is such a privilege,” she said. “I was itching to get back while I was watching all my friends practice and wrestle in tournaments. It’s exciting to be back.”
The tourney title gives Keithley momentum as she eyes her first state tournament berth. She’s fallen one win short of state each of the last two seasons.
“This year I am going to state. I definitely am going,” she said. “I have confidence.”
Reeds Spring’s Blaikelee Cagle won the 170 championship with a pin of Rolla’s Delaney Miller in 5:10.
Lady Pirates’ Salemie impresses
At least one coach voted for Branson 115 champ Alyssa Salemie as the Most Outstanding Wrestler, even though she didn’t get to compete in the final round.
Salemie won the 115 title by medical forfeit after Central’s Jaidyn Pohlsander re-injured a shoulder.
“I was looking forward to the match, hoping that she would (wrestle),” Salemie said. “It was definitely a letdown. But I kind of expected it because she’s had shoulder problems a few times.”
Salemie had a total of only 3:37 of mat time while posting four pins in her four matches.
Salemie was a decorated youth wrestler and her freshman season has lived up to all expectations. She is 20-1. Other than forfeits, all of her wins have been by pins.
“I go out there for a pin. I don’t do points,” Salemie said. “Go out there and get a pin and get it over with. I love riding legs. I’m a big leg rider. I will take advantage of people’s mistakes. If people make one little mistake, I will take advantage of that and wreck their world.”
Salemie’s lone loss saw her get pinned by Sedalia Smith-Cotton’s Jazlyn Smith-Freeman in 5:40 at the McDonald County Lady Mustang Christmas Classic.
“I was sick during that tournament. It was a real accomplishment getting second while sick,” Salemie said. “I can’t wait to wrestle her again, all healthy.”
Webb City’s Combs prevails at 140
Winning her first tournament championship this season at 140 was Webb City’s Emma Combs.
“I had not placed higher than third,” Combs said. “This makes me feel great about myself and also pushes me to work harder.”
She pinned Republic’s Aara Shade in 2:53 in their title tilt.
“I’m very proud of how I performed,” Combs said. “This is my high point and pushes me to where I need to be for state.”
Lady Vikings’ Schnelle 235 champ
Parkview’s Elisabeth Schnelle improved to 7-2 by pinning Webb City’s Mackenzie Booth in 1:36 for the 235 championship.
Rolla pair dominant championsÂ
Rolla’s Kiara Sederburg and Kaylee Riegel both won championships by pinning all of their opponents.
Sederburg, who is 16-2, pinned Ozark’s Kierra Kerns in 4:35 in the 100 final. Her five pins came in 12:17.
Riegel, who is 17-4, pinned Rogersville’s Kaylee Mastroianni in 2:59 for the 190 title. Her five pins came in 10:00.
CJ’s Montez takes 135 title
Bella Montez, of Carl Junction, improved to 16-1 by pinning Nixa’s Isabel Diaz-Rubin :31 for the 135 championship.
She had four pins in 4:07.
