CORALVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – Immediately after earning a initially round bye, Waverly-Shell-Rock’s Annika Behrends didn’t appear rusty in the slightest pinning her first spherical opponent in a matter of 61 seconds.

“I was truly harm for the to start with portion of the season, so I came into the state event 1-,” she defined. “I’ve only wrestled 1 match and this was my next match.”

Behrends had surgical treatment to eliminate a cyst on her tailbone which sidelined her a greater part of this season. Wrestling operates in the family members for the two-time condition winner and a few-time finalist, who needed make the most of her senior season.

“I experience a large amount more assured in all my shots truly extra this year than I did previous yr. I believe that’s just what happens above time. I sense like I have been far more fluid,” she said.

In addition, the Go-Hawks have received the final three condition wrestling team titles.

At 155, East Buchanan’s Keeley Kehrli was in a position to shake off the nerves pinning her initial spherical opponent in 23 seconds.

“Definitely nerve-wrecking coming into it, but just acquiring that very first get down that relieves some of the nerves,” mentioned stated right after the match. “I know I can go on to the next one and choose it a single match at a time and just perform via this match,” she extra.

After ending as a 2021 point out finalist, Kehrli has higher expectations for her junior time, but understands just as the sport proceeds to mature the competitiveness has gotten more durable.

“It’s amazing seeing that ladies are becoming much more self-assured. Owning this sport will allow them to do that and all of the persons coming in and guidance us is wonderful,” claimed Kehrli.

A significant advocate for increasing the activity, is recently hired Iowa women’s wrestling head coach Clarissa Chun, who stopped by the match. She suggests it is re-energizing to see so quite a few youthful women interested in the activity and getting benefit of their chances.

“It’s thoroughly Iowa design and style in listed here. These younger women are gritty and they scrap and they are hard. I assume they take satisfaction in being able to wrestle difficult. I really like it. It’s engrained in the fabric of Iowa and it exhibits listed here,” said Chun.

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