(Coralville, IA) — It may have been expected but it was no less dramatic. Molly Allen of Riverside had been chasing perfection the entire season and on Friday night, she caught it. Miss Molly won her fourth consecutive state championship and finished her high school career with a perfect record, no losses, all wins.
Allen did what Allen does best in the championship match — take control early with her speed, shoot in, score points, let her opponent — this time Harlan Freshman Elle Stephens — get up and then immediately shoot in again. The match only lasted one minute and one second and before anybody knew what was going on, Allen had won a state title. She finished her senior season 31-0 and put herself among the legends of her sport. The match also ended an incredible season for Stephens who went 33-7 and went from the six seed to the silver medal. Interview with Molly Allen is below.
Atlantic’s Haley Armstrong overcome a tough morning to win her 5th place match, beating Emma Daniels of Carroll again, this time a little quicker at 3:35. Armstrong finishes her season at 37-4. Interview with Armstrong is below.
Macy Rasmussen of Audubon lost her match for 5th, to Ellie Wheets of Vinton Shellsburg by a 15-1 score. Rasmussen went 2-3 at the state tournament and finished her freshman season 38-3 overall.
Logan Magnolia/Woodbine walked away with 3 medals including a state champion. Teagan Carritt went from an 8 seed to a state title. Carritt — only a freshman — beat #3 Jalyiah Gardner of Keokuk by fall at 3:18 to claim the 1A 140 state championship and finished 46-4 record. At 170 pounds, Nancy Bowman lost her bid for a state title by fall at 3:44 to Brooklyn Graham of East Buchanan — Bowman finished 40-7. At 130, Jordan Buffum lost her match for 5th place 13-5.
Interview with Teagan Carritt
Other medalists in Class 1A on Friday evening included Emma Miller of Treynor, winning her 5th place match at 105 by fall at 3:17. Brianna Kiger of Carroll finished 8th place at 115. Karlie Kruse of Creston won her 5th place match 9-3 at 125 pounds. Evy Marlin of Creston finished 4th at 135 pounds. Lily Weinrich of Clarinda was 4th at 140 pounds.
In Class 2A, Lewis Central walked away with 6 medals including two state championships. At 120 pounds, Sophomore Avaeh Smith scored the only takedown of the match in the first period and held on the rest of the way for a 4-1 win over #1 Apryl Halsor of Cedar Falls. The win avenged an earlier loss to Halsor and gave Smith a final 42-1 record. Mahri Manz ended her high school career with another state title — Manz claimed the 145 pound crown by pinning Skylar Slade of SE Polk with 4 seconds left in the first period and finished the season 49-0. At 125, Emerson Gregg finished in 3rd place with a consolation finals win 7-1. At 135, Kassidy Fiala finished in 6th place. At 155, Kalen Jo Westfield finished in 5th place. At 190, Madison Wright finished in 6th place.
Interview with Avaeh Smith
As for the team competition, East Buchanan won the 1A title with 105 points ahead of Mount Vernon with 94. Raccoon River NW claimed the 2A state crown with 160 points ahead of Ankeny with 143. Lewis Central finished 4th with 111.5.
