Feb. 9 was a big day for the Seward County girls’ wrestling team. Four wrestlers were competing in the district tournament with places at state on the line.
Three girls advanced to the state tournament, marking the first state qualifiers in Seward County girls’ wrestling history.
“All four wrestled well and wrestled tough,” Coach Doug Theobald said. “It was good to see. They were able to make history. That’s neat for them.”
Last year, the team had wrestlers in the consolation semifinals or heartbreak round, and no one was able to advance.
Ava Rediger earned third place at 125 pounds. She was 3-1 on the day with three pins and pinned Grace Neemann of Waverly in the third-place match.
Lauren Frihauf and Evelyn Theobald both finished fourth. Frihauf pinned Bailey Turpitt of Blue River in the heartbreak round to punch her ticket at 105 pounds.
Theobald defeated Braelyn Degenhardt of Thayer Central 11-5 in the heartbreak match to earn a spot at state, as well.
Coach Theobald said seeing Frihauf and Rediger do well gave Evelyn Theobald the confidence she needed against Degenhardt. The two met in the tournament at Crete, and the coach said it seemed the TCHS wrestler had Theobald’s number.
“I couldn’t be more proud as a coach and as a dad,” he said.
Lainy Abell went 0-2 in her matches at 190 pounds to finish her season at 14-9.
The girls will wrestle Thursday, Feb. 15, starting at 3 p.m. First-round consolation matches are Friday, Feb. 16, starting at noon. Matches on Saturday, Feb. 17, start at 9 a.m.
Frihauf (36-14) will wrestle Mara Vanderpool of Omaha Westside (46-3) in her first match at 105 pounds.
Rediger (36-14) will meet Jordyn Campbell of Yutan (46-8) at 125 pounds.
Theobald (28-21) will see Bella Arrants of Grand Island (38-8).
