(Neola, IA) — The winter sports season officially starts tonight — its the first night that girls wrestlers can hit the mat. No local teams will be competing tonight but ATU will open this Saturday. ATU is the combined schools of AHSTW, Tri Center and Underwood. Head Coach Mark Hazen has 17 total wrestlers out this year — 10 from Underwood, 4 from Tri Center and 3 from AHSTW. For the Trojans, Senior Emily Rose-Ellrott-Schmielau will be one the leaders
From AHSTW, Sophomore Annabelle Baxter is the lone returnee who is hungry to try and make it to state which did not happen a year ago
The two other wrestlers are newcomers — Senior Claire Mertz who is picking things up quickly according to Hazen and also Freshman Isabelle Cody who is actually a transfer from Riverside. From Underwood, Sophomore Trinity Bret has the most experience and just narrowly missed last year’s state tournament says Hazen
Freshmen Sharlene Jensen, Kim Rasmussen and Jenny Kofoed all wrestled in junior high school and will look for a varsity spot. Sophomore Ryleigh Jensen is new to the sport and should contend for a spot in the mid weights. Hazen’s first priority with the team was to bring everybody together — three groups of girls from three different school districts does not make a team instantly
ATU will open there girls wrestling season this Saturday at the Western Iowa Tournament hosted by West Monona.
Complete Interview with Head Coach Mark Hazen
