The entire River Valley Conference knew which was the best team all season. Now, it’s made official.
West Liberty’s girls’ wrestling team was crowned conference champions last Friday at the RVC meet in Anamosa, edging out the hosts 234 to 186.
Mid-Prairie claimed third with 135 team points with West Branch in fourth at 111.
In total, 17 Comets competed and five captured gold medals.
It’s a list of the usual suspects in what is a loaded West Liberty lineup: Silvia Garcia-Vasquez (115), Kiley Collins (120), Dionni Garcia-Vasquez (140), Amerie Alvarado (190) and Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez (235).
Not to be outdone, Alivia Garcia (105) and Alissa Sanchez (110) won silver medals and contributed greatly to the Comets’ team score.
First in the winners’ circle was Silvia Garcia-Vasquez who was forced to engage in friendly fire with fellow Comet Charli Gingerich in the quarterfinals. Then, she pinned Ryan Carlson of Anamosa in the first-period in the semifinals.
In the championship, Garcia-Vasquez needed a second-period to finally pin Austyn Sexton of Mid-Prairie to end her night on top of the podium.
Collins started her evening with a 47-second pin of Wilton’s Dale Paulson. Her toughest match was in the semifinals when it took over three and a half minutes to control and lock down Ava Lawler of Cascade.
The first-place match saw Collins square off against Tipton’s Saidee Hamilton. It ended in a pin and with Collins’ arm raised after just 56 seconds on the mat.
Like her teammates, Dionni Garcia-Vasquez was also efficient in securing her title. Her first two matches, against Meghan Besler of Anamosa and Hanna Lacina of West Branch, ended in under one minute.
The championship, against the alliterative Addison Appelhans of Anamosa, ended with the Comet getting the second-period pin at 2:23.
Both Alvarado and Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez only needed to wrestle two matches each after getting bye’s in the championship first rounds and quarterfinals.
For Alvarado, she downed Kaycee Bellings of Bellevue and Saylee Gingerich of West Branch for her first-place win.
Garcia-Vasquez earned a second-period pin against Shelby Stacey of Mid-Prairie to book her championship ticket. She beat the first-period buzzer with a pin at 1:58 against Skylar Wegener of Northeast.
For the second-place finishers, Garcia knocked off Rudy Miller of Mid-Prairie in the quarterfinals and Koda Fogg of Tipton with pins. However, she ran into the buzz saw that is Durant’s 36-0 Lainey Shelangoski, who won the 105-pound bracket.
At 110, Alissa Sanchez received free passes into the championship semifinals. There, she defeated teammate Ximena Valenzuela with a first-period pin. Then, in the finals, Audra Coss of Wilton got the better of Sanchez with a rare match that went to decision. It was 8-4 in favor of the Beaver.
Valenzuela placed third with her only other match occurring in the bronze medal match. This bout also went to a decision with the Comet coming out on top 12-10 over Nicole Schwenker of Cascade.
Coming in fourth place was Aspen Sebolt in the 100-pound bracket, Mercedes Brockert in the 130-pound bracket and Nellie Stagg in the 135-pound bracket.
Placing fifth and ending their night with a win were Charli Gingerich at 115 and Vivian Cardona at 145.
Other Comets competing at this event were Addison Guerra (6th at 100), Charlie Howard (8th at 125), Angelique Bonilla (did not place at 170) and Tatum Hale (7th at 235).
This tournament was the perfect tune-up event for the Super Regional occurring this Friday at the Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the state tournament in Iowa City next week.
West Liberty will compete in Region Five alongside the following 24 schools:
Bellevue; Camanche; Cedar Rapids Jefferson; Cedar Rapids Washington; Central DeWitt; Clinton; Columbus Junction/WMU; Denver; Don Bosco; East Buchanan; Fort Madison; Independence; Linn-Mar; Louisa-Muscatine; Marion; Marshalltown; Midland; Northeast Community; Pleasant Valley; Prairie, Cedar Rapids; Union; Wahlert Catholic; Wilton; and Xavier, Cedar Rapids.