Centralia girls wrestling was the champion again on Thursday.
The Lady Panthers won the Clarence Cannon Conference quad in Centralia after defeating Highland 48-12, Macon 48-12 and Palmyra 48-18 …
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Centralia girls wrestling was the champion again on Thursday.
The Lady Panthers won the Clarence Cannon Conference quad in Centralia after defeating Highland 48-12, Macon 48-12 and Palmyra 48-18 after doing the same last season.
Head coach Mike Adkisson said this season’s adversity started with the roster being all underclassmen after junior Jayci Shelton was lost due to a torn ACL. Adkisson pointed out that has continued with the team’s schedule so far, but the girls have handled it like their conference competition on Thursday.
“They have overcome a lot of adversity,” Adkisson said. “They have seen some stiff competition early in the season. We were able to come out tonight and bounce back, show some grit and get a conference title at home.”
Adkisson called the conference meet “the first step in the right direction” in battling adversity. He said the girls really wanted to take that step by winning conference again because they reminded him they were the champions last year.
Triztyn Tinker and Kyleigh Dollens each defeated two opponents; and Avery Adams, Karlin Andersen and Alyssa Bodine each defeated one opponent.
The Battle at the Katy Trail tournament in Sedalia and the Wonder Woman tournament at Battle in Columbia are just two examples of tough places where Centralia has competed, Adkisson said. The Katy Trail tournament is one of the biggest in the state and the Wonder Woman is a nationally recognized tournament, but Adkisson said there was more before all that.
“We started the year at a quad in Mexico and saw some good competition in Brookfield, Holt and Mexico and then we went right into the Wentzville Liberty tournament and saw some bigger St. Louis schools there,” Adkisson said. “When you come out and see that type of competition early on, in theory, it makes you tougher. We’re seeing that right now and are getting tougher.”
Tinker is the 190-pound freshman who has stood out for Centralia this season. She finished third in the Wentzville tournament and then second in the Katy Trail tournament. She also made it to the second day of the Wonder Woman tournament, which brings in competition from several states along with Missouri
“(Triztyn) is already ranked in the top 10 (in her weight class),” Adkisson said. “She already has got a win over the No. 3 seed in our district right now as far as ranked wrestlers go. Triztyn is right there in the mix if you are looking big picture in state medals right now, just as far as what she has accomplished so far.”
Avery Adams made it to 100 pounds for the first time this season on Thursday, Adkisson said, after finishing second at 105 pounds in the Wentzville tournament. Adams also advanced to the Wonder Woman’s second day.
“She was a state qualifier at 100 pounds last year as a freshman,” Adkisson said. “Back as a sophomore, she is even stronger and is a much better wrestler.”
Adkisson said he would like to improve as a team and have more moments as good as Thursday’s in front of a packed home gym.
“I don’t see us doing anything but getting better right now,” Adkisson said. “These young girls show up every day and work hard. They have a goal in mind, and we are working for it right now.”
