So far so good for Centralia girls wrestling.
In its first action of the season, the Lady Panthers won all three of their duals against district competition during Thursday’s Mexico quad. …
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So far so good for Centralia girls wrestling.
In its first action of the season, the Lady Panthers won all three of their duals against district competition during Thursday’s Mexico quad. They defeated Holt 41-30, Mexico 53-30 and three-time reigning state runner-up Brookfield 30-29.
Head coach Mike Adkisson said Centralia’s already young team going into the season got even younger when the team’s only junior Jayci Shelton, who is a two-time state champion, tore her ACL. She will be out of action all season but saw many girls pick up wins and hopes to see many more victories this season.
“We’re a young, young team,” Adkisson said. “I don’t have a single junior or senior in my lineup. They have come together — and Jayci is still with us every day — even tighter. For whatever reason, whether they’re doing it for her, it’s bringing our team closer.”
Adkisson said he is excited by the team’s future and that future is what Centralia will have to rely on all season. Four freshmen took the mat on Thursday. Avery Griggs won via technical fall twice against Holt and Mexico, and Triztyn Tinker won by pinfall twice against Mexico and Brookfield.
Last year’s six freshmen returned to the Lady Panthers and won matches. Kyleigh Dollens and Alyssa Bodine — while wrestling up a weight class — won all three of their matches via pinfall. Analeigh Bruce won both of her matches via pinfall, Audrianna Trujillo won two of her three matches by pinfall, Avery Adams and Karli Andersen won one of their two matches by pinfall.
“That sophomore group is a tight group and the future of this program,” Adkisson said “They are taking steps in the right direction.”
Aniya Havens is a sophomore Adkisson added this season and she had the type of performance that stuck out to him. Havens trailed Mexico’s Lehua Grantz in her match but rallied to pin her for the victory.
“Even when situations looked bleak or didn’t look great for us, we continued to wrestle hard,” Adkisson said. “That’s exactly what we talk about every day.”
Centralia has the Liberty Girls Invitational on Dec. 12 in Lake St. Louis. Adkisson said there are ways to improve, of course, but Centralia has started really well.
“This quad was put together with the thought in mind of putting four good teams in the gym and getting the season off to a good start,” Adkisson said. “I couldn’t be prouder of my girls. Their grit, their toughness and the way they show up is second to none.”
