BURLINGTON — Iola High School junior Zoey Hesse, 190 lbs., and freshman heavyweight Kaelin Rodriguez finished first and second respectively at Thursday’s Pioneer League Championship.
Hesse won the title in a best of three series against Prairie View freshman Kinleigh Stiles (14-8) with a pair of first-period pins.
Hesse now has her focus on next weekend’s regional tournament in Tonganoxie which will feature all but one of the top-ranked 190 lbs. 4A wrestlers.
Hesse said she is ready to test her skills against the state’s finest.
“I’m excited. I should do well. Everybody will be there but the No. 1 girl,” said Hesse, referring to Winfield senior Abby Brenn, last year’s state champion and runner-up as a sophomore. Hesse looks to avenge a loss to Brenn from earlier this season.
Rodriguez (16-14) had only one opponent in her debut run in the Pioneer League Championship. She fell to Prairie View junior Michaela Miller (12-8) in both matches. The first loss came in a loss by second-period pin, then again in a rematch by first-period pin.
Also similar to Hesse, Rodriguez’ regional bracket features several top-ranked heavyweights but Coach John Taylor remains confident in her abilities to compete.
Hesse and senior Addilyn Wacker, 130 lbs., made school history last year when they qualified for the state championship.
Taylor is confident of a repeat in even greater fashion.
“The girls are right where they need to be,” Taylor said. “I feel confident we’re going to take more girls to state this year than we did last year. They’ve been wrestling well, and I feel really good about that.”
Freshman Bayleigh Scheibmeir, 135 lbs., fell in both of her matches Thursday as part of a three-woman round robin. She opened with a loss by second-period pin to Prairie View junior Gabbi Cullor (3-1), then fell in her final match to Wellsville senior Morgan Mietchen (29-9) by first-period pin.
