A strong start to the season

Three meets in five days gave the Okoboji-HMS girls' wrestlers a busy and successful start to the 2024-25 season.

The season began with a double dual hosted by Emmetsburg on Nov. 19. Okoboji-HMS defeated Emmetsburg, 66-10, and Sioux Central, 57-24, taking advantage of several open weights. The Pioneers finished 5-5 in matches that were wrestled.

H-M-S freshman Natalie Dagel was 2-0, winning by fall over Jazzmin DeShazer of Sioux Central (2:37) and by forfeit. Sophomore Miley Appledorn was 1-1, losing by fall to Taylor Thayer of Emmetsburg (3:42) and winning by forfeit.

Okoboji-HMS was back on the mats on Nov. 22 for a meet hosted by Sioux Central. Kaela Weston placed first at 100 pounds, Kenadie Neavin was second at 105 and Dulche Ortega placed third at 115.

Two H-M-S athletes finished fourth in their high school mat debuts. Wrestling at 125 pounds, freshman Addily Benz lost by fall to Emma Kischer of East Sac County (1:46), Aazilynn Felix of Manson Northwest Webster (0:23) and Nichole Hart of Sioux Central (0:53).

In the 155-pound bracket, sophomore Mahkenzie Mattingly won by fall over Teeyona Corliss of Pocahontas Area (3:18) and lost by fall to Magnolia Malm of GTRA (2:56), Adelynn Hudek of MNW (0:43) and Lucy Kohnen of MNW (1:18).

The Pioneers scored 25 points and finished seventh in the team standings.

Okoboji-HMS returned to Emmetsburg on Nov. 23 for the Lady E-Hawk tournament. Champions were Lillie Schwager at 100 pounds and Brooke Stockdale at 110.

H-M-S sophomore Madi Lauer was a third-place finisher, losing by fall to Gracey May of Humboldt (2:28) and to Trista Guinn of GTRA (0:11). She received a bye in the consolation round.

Appledorn opened the 120-pound bracket with a bye. She then won by fall over Kennedy Harmon of East Sac County (0:16), lost by fall to Thayer (2:44) and Plathe (2:31), and then pinned Harman again in the fifth-place match (0:51).

Also placing third were Addilyn Plathe at 120 pounds, Brilee Fauth at 125, Alyana Hesse at 130, Kimberly Burgeson at 135 and Jenessa Gates at 190. Makinley Caviness placed fourth at 155 and Avery Wintz finished sixth at 170.

Central Lyon/G-LR won the team title with 210 points, Okoboji-HMS finished second with 189 and Humboldt was third with 185. There were 10 teams in the tournament.

The Pioneers will wrestle GTRA and Spencer in dual action on Dec. 5 at Graettinger.