The West Liberty girls’ wrestling team sent the message loud and clear — Don’t mess with the Comets.
In a true showing of domination, West Liberty thwarted any and all competition at last Monday’s (Nov. 20) West Liberty Girls Invitational with 205 team points, besting the next-best school by 48 points.
The Comets had three champions and four wrestlers take third place in their respective brackets.
In total, West Liberty wrestlers had 59 wins and 40 pins, both of which are event bests.
Starting in the 115-pound bracket, senior Alissa Sanchez went 3-0 to secure the title. Ironically, she did not get much mat time — it took her a combined 22 seconds to record her first two pins.
To break a sweat, Sanchez took 65 seconds to pin Alyssa Lovell of Tipton in the championship match to claim the title.
Similarly, at 140, senior Dionni Garcia-Vasquez made quick work of her opponents and pinned all three in the first period.
In the championship match, Garcia-Vasquez got the better of Kyna Moffit of Pleasant Valley in 1:39 after beating foes from Muscatine and Mid-Prairie in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
The 235-pound bracket was guaranteed one Comet in the championship match due to some friendly fire in the semifinals.
Freshman Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez defeated senior teammate Amerie Alvarado via first-period pin en route to the finals.
Garcia-Vasquez ventured into the second period with Tipton’s Anna Thomas, but not for long. 15 seconds into the frame, she got the pin and ended up on top of the podium.
For Alvarado, she still ended up with a smile on her face at the end of the night. She claimed third place in the 235-pound group with a 58-second pin over Shelby Stacey of Mid-Prarie.
At 145, senior Nellie Stagg got tripped up in her first match of the night. However, she ran the table in the consolation bracket, winning four straight matches via fall to claim third place.
Sophomore Kiley Collins made her season debut at the West Liberty Invitational and immediately made an impact. She took third in the 125-pound bracket with a win over River Valley Conference rival Ava Streeter of Durant in the bronze medal match.
Lastly, freshman Aspen Seabolt chose a different method of victory for her third-place match. She took a longer route, but the result was never in doubt as she won a 15-2 major decision against Elyssa Graber of WACO, Wayland.
Fellow freshman Alivia Garcia also got a shot at a WACO, Wayland opponent in the third-place match. Occurring in the 110-pound division, the Warrior bested the Comet with a fall at 1:15. It was still a great evening for Garcia, who recorded two first-period pins to propel her into the third-place match.
Additionally, sophomore Jacquelin Molina and freshman Addison Guerra finished odd with fifth-place results at the Invitational.
Molina won her first two matches at 135 to make the championship semifinals and won her fifth-place match with a third-period pin over Pleasant Valley’s Carmen Faidley.
Guerra’s results mirrored Molina’s. The freshman made the championship semifinals at 100 and also recorded a third-period pin to take fifth place. She secured it against Lucille Zimmerman of Fort Madison.
Fort Madison was able to take second place in the team standings with 157 team points. Behind them were Mid-Prairie (144), North Scott (141), Tipton (134), Pleasant Valley (118) and Durant (94) which made up the top half of the event standings.
The only bad part about the Thanksgiving break is that it prevented these girls from immediately continuing their momentum.
However, the rest might not be a bad thing after a busy couple of days. They will likely be ready to roll again, with confidence meters overflowing, when they take to the mats on Saturday, December 2 at Wapello High School for the second annual Willard Howell Girls’ Invite.
Shortly after, the Comets will participate in a quad meet with Tipton, Bellevue and the hosts from Anamosa on Monday, December 4 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
West Liberty Girls Invitational Results
100
Addison Guerra’s place is 5th and has scored 13.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Addison Guerra (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Addison Guerra (West Liberty) won by fall over Lucille Zimmerman (Fort Madison) (Fall 3:48). Semifinal - Abbie Grout (Highland, Riverside) won by fall over Addison Guerra (West Liberty) (Fall 0:47). Cons. Semi - Finley Rushton (West Branch) won by fall over Addison Guerra (West Liberty) (Fall 1:07). 5th Place Match - Addison Guerra (West Liberty) won by fall over Lucille Zimmerman (Fort Madison) (Fall 5:18)
105
Aspen Sebolt’s place is 3rd and has scored 19.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Aspen Sebolt (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Aspen Sebolt (West Liberty) won by fall over Brandi Stewart (Alburnett) (Fall 0:11). Semifinal - Lainey Shelangoski (Durant) won by fall over Aspen Sebolt (West Liberty) (Fall 3:13). Cons. Semi - Aspen Sebolt (West Liberty) won by fall over Khloe Hamilton (North Scott) (Fall 2:55). 3rd Place Match - Aspen Sebolt (West Liberty) won by major decision over Elyssa Graber (WACO, Wayland) (Maj 15-2).
110 — Escobar
Chelsea Escobar’s place is 8th and has scored 1.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Chelsea Escobar (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Grace Euson (Durant) won by fall over Chelsea Escobar (West Liberty) (Fall 1:19). Cons. Round 2 - Chelsea Escobar (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Cons. Round 3 - Julia Herring (West Branch) won by fall over Chelsea Escobar (West Liberty) (Fall 0:37). 7th Place Match - Lana McCoy (North Scott) won by fall over Chelsea Escobar (West Liberty) (Fall 0:57).
110 — Garcia
Alivia Garcia’s place is 4th and has scored 14.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Alivia Garcia (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Angelina Roling (Highland, Riverside) won by fall over Alivia Garcia (West Liberty) (Fall 2:25). Cons. Round 2 - Alivia Garcia (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Cons. Round 3 - Alivia Garcia (West Liberty) won by fall over Lana McCoy (North Scott) (Fall 0:35). Cons. Semi - Alivia Garcia (West Liberty) won by fall over Grace Euson (Durant) (Fall 0:51). 3rd Place Match - Rylee Rice (WACO, Wayland) won by fall over Alivia Garcia (West Liberty) (Fall 1:15).
115 — Valenzuela
Ximena Valenzuela’s place is 6th and has scored 10.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Emily Stutting (North Scott) won by fall over Ximena Valenzuela (West Liberty) (Fall 0:24). Cons. Round 1 - Ximena Valenzuela (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Cons. Round 2 - Ximena Valenzuela (West Liberty) won by fall over Deedra Graber (WACO, Wayland) (Fall 1:22). Cons. Round 3 - Ximena Valenzuela (West Liberty) won by fall over Linda Diaz (Muscatine) (Fall 1:44). Cons. Semi - Annah Blanchard (Fort Madison) won by fall over Ximena Valenzuela (West Liberty) (Fall 0:29). 5th Place Match - Emily Stutting (North Scott) won by fall over Ximena Valenzuela (West Liberty) (Fall 0:44).
115 — Sanchez
Alissa Sanchez’s place is 1st and has scored 28.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Alissa Sanchez (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Alissa Sanchez (West Liberty) won by fall over Linda Diaz (Muscatine) (Fall 0:12). Semifinal - Alissa Sanchez (West Liberty) won by fall over Chevy Fierce (North Scott) (Fall 0:10). 1st Place Match - Alissa Sanchez (West Liberty) won by fall over Alyssa Lovell (Tipton) (Fall 1:05).
120
Charli Gingerich’s place is 7th and has scored 11.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Charli Gingerich (West Liberty) won by fall over Athena Flores (WACO, Wayland) (Fall 1:14). Quarterfinal - Lexi Eaton (Louisa-Muscatine) won by fall over Charli Gingerich (West Liberty) (Fall 3:12). Cons. Round 2 - Charli Gingerich (West Liberty) won by fall over Iris Arevalo (Fort Madison) (Fall 1:48). Cons. Round 3 - Micayla Ramirez (North Scott) won by fall over Charli Gingerich (West Liberty) (Fall 0:42). 7th Place Match - Charli Gingerich (West Liberty) won by fall over Chloe Hundertmark (North Scott) (Fall 2:16).
125 — Collins
Kiley Collins’s place is 3rd and has scored 20.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Kiley Collins (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Kiley Collins (West Liberty) won by fall over Addison Skipton (Muscatine) (Fall 0:27). Semifinal - Mara Smith (Fort Madison) won by fall over Kiley Collins (West Liberty) (Fall 2:38). Cons. Semi - Kiley Collins (West Liberty) won by fall over Briena Fenton (Fort Madison) (Fall 0:33). 3rd Place Match - Kiley Collins (West Liberty) won by fall over Ava Streeter (Durant) (Fall 0:33).
125 — Hayes
Sophia Hayes’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Leah Barr (Pleasant Valley) won by fall over Sophia Hayes (West Liberty) (Fall 2:35). Cons. Round 1 - Sophia Hayes (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Cons. Round 2 - Charlie Howard (West Liberty) won by fall over Sophia Hayes (West Liberty) (Fall 2:59).
125 — Gallardo
Ashley Gallardo’s place is 7th and has scored 10.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Briena Fenton (Fort Madison) won by fall over Ashley Gallardo (West Liberty) (Fall 3:43). Cons. Round 1 - Ashley Gallardo (West Liberty) won by disqualification over Payzleigh Crawford (North Scott) (DQ). Cons. Round 2 - Ashley Gallardo (West Liberty) won by fall over Addison Skipton (Muscatine) (Fall 3:30). Cons. Round 3 - Leah Barr (Pleasant Valley) won by fall over Ashley Gallardo (West Liberty) (Fall 4:11). 7th Place Match - Ashley Gallardo (West Liberty) won by fall over Charlie Howard (West Liberty) (Fall 5:53).
125 — Howard
Charlie Howard’s place is 8th and has scored 8.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Charlie Howard (West Liberty) won by fall over Amelia Fangman (Muscatine) (Fall 0:33). Quarterfinal - Saidee Hamilton (Tipton) won by fall over Charlie Howard (West Liberty) (Fall 0:20). Cons. Round 2 - Charlie Howard (West Liberty) won by fall over Sophia Hayes (West Liberty) (Fall 2:59). Cons. Round 3 - Briena Fenton (Fort Madison) won by fall over Charlie Howard (West Liberty) (Fall 0:56). 7th Place Match - Ashley Gallardo (West Liberty) won by fall over Charlie Howard (West Liberty) (Fall 5:53).
130
Mercedes Brockert’s place is 6th and has scored 9.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Mercedes Brockert (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Tori Hansen (Louisa-Muscatine) won by fall over Mercedes Brockert (West Liberty) (Fall 5:34). Cons. Round 2 - Mercedes Brockert (West Liberty) won by fall over Bella Hulscher (North Scott) (Fall 0:56). Cons. Round 3 - Mercedes Brockert (West Liberty) won by fall over Madison Reinier (Mid-Prairie) (Fall 0:26). Cons. Semi - Chloe Sokolik (Fort Madison) won by fall over Mercedes Brockert (West Liberty) (Fall 1:33). 5th Place Match - Addie Nerem (Tipton) won by fall over Mercedes Brockert (West Liberty) (Fall 1:41).
135
Jacquelin Molina’s place is 5th and has scored 15.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Jacquelin Molina (West Liberty) won by fall over Sierra Metcalf (North Scott) (Fall 5:48). Quarterfinal - Jacquelin Molina (West Liberty) won by fall over Mallory Bruhn (Muscatine) (Fall 1:17). Semifinal - Becca Hinderaker (Tipton) won by fall over Jacquelin Molina (West Liberty) (Fall 5:26). Cons. Semi - Kat Diprima (Fort Madison) won by fall over Jacquelin Molina (West Liberty) (Fall 0:26). 5th Place Match - Jacquelin Molina (West Liberty) won by fall over Carmen Faidley (Pleasant Valley) (Fall 5:08).
140
Dionni Garcia-Vasquez’s place is 1st and has scored 28.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Dionni Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Dionni Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty) won by fall over Kensley Paul (Muscatine) (Fall 1:07). Semifinal - Dionni Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty) won by fall over Ellie Brenneman (Mid-Prairie) (Fall 0:33). 1st Place Match - Dionni Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty) won by fall over Kyna Moffit (Pleasant Valley) (Fall 1:39).
145
Nellie Stagg’s place is 3rd and has scored 20.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Nellie Stagg (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Irelan Brown (Center Point-Urbana) won by fall over Nellie Stagg (West Liberty) (Fall 2:18). Cons. Round 2 - Nellie Stagg (West Liberty) won by fall over Bryn Stephens (North Scott) (Fall 2:26). Cons. Round 3 - Nellie Stagg (West Liberty) won by fall over Hanna Lacina (West Branch) (Fall 3:54). Cons. Semi - Nellie Stagg (West Liberty) won by fall over Addy McGraw (Alburnett) (Fall 5:51). 3rd Place Match - Nellie Stagg (West Liberty) won by fall over Irelan Brown (Center Point-Urbana) (Fall 4:32).
235 — Alvarado
Amerie Alvarado’s place is 3rd and has scored 20.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Amerie Alvarado (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Amerie Alvarado (West Liberty) won by fall over Taylea Palar (Fort Madison) (Fall 0:21). Semifinal - Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty) won by fall over Amerie Alvarado (West Liberty) (Fall 1:11). Cons. Semi - Amerie Alvarado (West Liberty) won by fall over Addyson Wehrman (North Scott) (Fall 0:38). 3rd Place Match - Amerie Alvarado (West Liberty) won by fall over Shelby Stacey (Mid-Prairie) (Fall 0:58).
235 — Hale
Tatum Hale’s place is 7th and has scored 4.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Tatum Hale (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Anna Thomas (Tipton) won by fall over Tatum Hale (West Liberty) (Fall 1:52). Cons. Round 2 - Tatum Hale (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Cons. Round 3 - Addyson Wehrman (North Scott) won by fall over Tatum Hale (West Liberty) (Fall 2:37). 7th Place Match - Tatum Hale (West Liberty) won by fall over Taylea Palar (Fort Madison) (Fall 1:59).
235 — Garcia-Vasquez
Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez’s place is 1st and has scored 28.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty) received a bye () (Bye). Quarterfinal - Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty) won by fall over Addison Frere (North Scott) (Fall 0:20). Semifinal - Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty) won by fall over Amerie Alvarado (West Liberty) (Fall 1:11). 1st Place Match - Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty) won by fall over Anna Thomas (Tipton) (Fall 2:16).