It was a tough field Thursday and Friday, but Mexico freshman Alexus Johns survived until Day 2.

Wonder Woman Tournament

Johns was the lone Lady Bulldog wrestler out of six that advanced to the second day of the Wonder Woman girls wrestling tournament at Battle High School in Columbia. Johns wrestled to the fifth round of wrestlebacks after sustaining only one loss on Thursday during Day 1 before being eliminated Friday with her second loss of the tournament.

Head coach Tony Senor said Johns has a lot to be proud of by wrestling on Day 2 of the tournament that features a 64-girl bracket in each weight class, gathering state-champion caliber wrestlers in Missouri as well as other states. In fact, prior to her and freshman Taylor Parker advancing to the round of 16 at 235 and 190 pounds, respectively, Senor said the Mexico girls program had only one girl make it to that round in the Wonder Woman in its previous two years.

“If you make it to the second day, it’s an accomplishment just to do that,” Senor said. “This tournament is going to get us ready for districts. Seeing harder and tougher competition is only going to help us get to the next level — get to state. When the pressure’s on, you’ve got to wrestle. If not, your season’s done. I’m very proud of all of our wrestlers and the grit that she showed.”

Johns showed a “focused” performance, Senor said, as she pinned Belleville East’s Alonna Bremer and Matanzas’ Ani Brown before being pinned by Lebanon’s Sophiea Quinn. In her first wrestlebacks match against Centralia’s Besan Juma, who is a wrestler in Mexico’s district, Senor said Johns showed the most fight.

In the last match on Thursday, Johns was down 8-4 in the second period of the match before she executed a reversal to get Juma on her back for the pinfall. Senor popped out of his seat, yelling words of encouragement Johns’ way as she won a match that will factor into district-tournament seeding later in the season.

“I wanted her to control the ties, and I wanted her to slow down the match and let the match come to her and not force anything,” Senor said. “Unfortunately, she kind of forced a few things, but she’s a first-year wrestler. She’s learning on the fly, and she’s learning quickly. Her moving constantly on bottom was probably the determining factor.

“She did not back down. It was a very long day too. To stay focused and have the energy to compete at a high level every match, that’s what it takes, win or lose. She was ready to fight. That’s what I like.”

Speaking of grit, Parker had much of it as Senor said she has been dealing with hip issues and even had to have the trainer called for assistance in what turned out to be her last match of the tournament. Prior to that, Parker received a bye before pinning Rockwood Summit’s Jacida Kirk to advance to the round of 16. Parker was pinned quickly by Northwest’s Abby Chandler — a three-time tournament winner this season and a junior national champion — before losing to Fort Zumwalt North’s Mckenna Dydell.

Parker and Dydell went out of bounds before the trainer had to attend to Parker. Even while hobbling, Parker returned to the center of the mat to finish the bout.

“For Taylor, she had some adversity on the mat,” Senor said. “She was fighting some injuries. During the match, she did not want to quit. She did not give up and said, ‘I want to finish this match.’ That’s grit, that’s determination and that’s willpower.”

According to Missouri Wrestling, 48 girls entered the Wonder Woman undefeated, and a few of the other Lady Bulldogs had tough draws, Senor said.

After receiving a bye in the 130-pound bracket, freshman Abby Bowen was pinned by Jefferson City’s Alexis Dunwiddie, who is a reigning district champion and sixth-place state wrestler at 125 pounds. At 120 pounds, senior Ali Walotka was pinned by Southern Boone’s Callie Bergthold, who was 22-0 entering the bout and is a reigning district champion and third-place state wrestler at 115 pounds.

“My senior, Ali Walotka, performed very well and she had a tough draw. (Bergthold) is predicted to be in the state finals,” Senor said. “Abby Bowen wrestled that Jeff City girl, Alexis Dunwiddie, who is projected to win state this year. The competition is there, and that’s only going to help us.”

As for Mexico’s other grapplers, in the 115-pound bracket, freshman Layla Fierge was pinned by Washington’s Keira Soos and then received a bye prior to being pinned and eliminated by Marshfield’s Addyson Clark. At 125 pounds, freshman Kiya Smith received a bye before being pinned by Odessa’s Emily Bischoff — a junior national champion — and then losing by pinfall to be eliminated in wrestlebacks by Francis Howell’s Jenna Smith.

“This is one of the hardest regular season tournaments in the state and in the nation,” Senor said. “Our girls did phenomenal. Everyone was ready to wrestle and everyone was ready to scrap regardless of who they’re wrestling. I’m proud of every single girl.”