By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
COLUMBIA — Nixa wasted no time eliminating the drama in the race for the team championship at the Class 2 Girls State Wrestling Tournament. The Lady Eagles ran away from the field en route to their program’s first state championship.
Nixa totaled 139.5 points over Friday and Saturday, easily outdistancing runner-up Francis Howell Central’s 88.
The previous record for points for a girls team at state was 134.5.
“That’s awesome to set a record,” coach Dustin Martin said.
A year ago, the Lady Eagles fell a half a point short to Francis Howell Central for a championship. Nixa was also second three years ago.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TOURNAMENT
“We talked about the importance of bonus points,” Martin said. “Our girls did a great job starting in the first round. We had several girls winning by seven or 14 who continued on to get extra points to get the bonus points. We wanted to make sure we weren’t going to lose because we didn’t do everything we could.”
“It’s so exciting to be a part of this team,” said Nixa 125-pound state champ Addison Harkins.
Harkins (42-2) gained her first state championship by recording a 14-6 victory against Jena Gumahin, of Ft. Zumwalt South (46-2) in the finals.
At The Wonder Woman in early January, Harkins beat Gumahin 12-6.
“Since I wrestled her before, I knew the finals match was going to be tough,” Harkins said. “She’s so strong and smart. It’s exciting to (wrestle) people like that.”
Nixa’s other medalists include runner-up Caly Dupree (27-1) at 175, third-place Ashton Mayes (34-9) at 105, fourth-place Hanna Egley (32-10) at 100, fourth-place Kamryn Bourbon (40-5) at 145, fourth-place Jessie Nelson (32-13) at 190 and sixth-place Ava Frye (26-7) at 140.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE TOURNAMENT
Dupree fell in an ultimate tiebreaker to Winnetonka’s Autumn Calvert.
CLASS 2 GIRLS MEDALISTS
1st – 110 – Abigail Fuglsang, Camdenton (46-0)
1st – 115 – Jessa Joiner, Lebanon (44-1)
1st – 125 – Addison Harkins, Nixa (42-2)
1st – 155 – Ellie Higginbotham, Willard (41-2)
2nd – 170 – Calyese Dupree, Nixa (27-1)
2nd – 115 – Alyssa Salemie, Branson (40-4)
2nd – 130 – Kaylee James, Carthage (39-2)
3rd – 235 – Sophiea Quinn, Lebanon (43-4)
3rd – 170 – Emily Brixey, Willard (31-8)
3rd – 190 – Yisel Perez, Waynesville (41-5)
3rd – 130 – Adia Hull, Willard (41-10)
4th – 190 – Jessie Nelson, Nixa (32-13)
4th – 100 – Hanna Egley, Nixa (32-10)
4th – 105 – Ashton Mayes, Nixa (34-9)
4th – 140 – Irish Lee, Carthage (31-12)
4th – 145 – Kamryn Bourbon, Nixa (40-5)
5th – 120 – Dakota Nix, Waynesville (35-7)
6th – 135 – Addison Brown, Waynesville (34-11)
6th – 140 – Ava Frye, Nixa (26-7)
6th – 190 – Harmony Moore, Willard (29-14)
