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Spratt secures 125-pound title at Williamsburg Girls Invitational
7 area semifinalists in competitive field
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WILLIAMSBURG — Keston Spratt has accomplished a lot in her high school girls wrestling career thus far.
Winning a tournament in front of a home crowd can now be added to that list.
Spratt, ranked third in 1A in her weight class, took home the 125-pound title at the Williamsburg Girls Invitational Monday.
“It feels amazing to finally do it in front of the home crowd,” Spratt said. “Last year I got second place in this tournament.”
A total of 30 teams competed in the varsity side of things, with many ranked wrestlers spread across all the 14 weight classes.
Spratt dismissed her first two opponents on the night with wins by fall in less than 42 seconds.
In the semifinals, Spratt faced a familiar opponent — Class 2A ninth-ranked Kaitlyn Raue of Iowa City Liberty.
It was the third time they matched up against each other already this season. They split the first two matches.
Spratt got a takedown in the first 11 seconds and rode well on top to control most of the match for a 9-3 win.
Quick takedowns followed into the championship match against Benton Community’s Makinzee Petre-King.
Spratt had two more takedowns in under 11 seconds and a seven-second escape en route to a 16-1 win by tech fall.
“I’ve figured out that when I just sit back and wait for them to come at me, I just get caught and don’t wrestle my best,” Spratt said.
“I realized that when I go in and make the first move, it’s always better for me.”
Two other area wrestlers made the finals in the competitive fields, and seven total made the semifinals.
English Valleys’ Emily Sieren won both of her matches at 105 pounds to make it to the final. Sieren was pinned by Wapello’s Kenadee Helscher for a runner-up finish.
Cecelia Gryp faced a tough test in the 135-pound final against Fort Madison’s Mara Smith.
Gryp was aggressive early and nearly got a takedown.
Smith was able to catch Gryp in a bad position to secure a cradle and get the pin in the first period.
“You always want to be aggressive,” Williamsburg coach Nathan Shank said. “We are at our best when we’re aggressive, it’s the way we practice everyday. We can learn from the mistakes, but I always want them to go down swinging.”
Iowa Valley’s Raelene Hawkins bounced-back after facing 2A No. 1 Autumn Elsbury from South Tama in the semifinals with a first period pin in the third-place match.
Williamsburg’s Lilly Ness did the same at 155, getting the win by fall in the third-place match over 2A No. 9 Peyten Van Dyke of Iowa City Liberty.
Iowa Valley’s Kodie Holcomb (140) and Williamsburg’s Bristol VanZuiden (190) both finished fourth.
Williamsburg finished third as a team with 133 1/2 points. Iowa Valley was 10th with 72 and English Valleys finished with 26.
“The girls wrestled hard and that’s what we emphasize,” Shank said. “We have more to work on and that’s what I am focused on.
“This week is long for our girls. It is the hardest week of our schedule but also the best for us. We’ll learn a lot about our team and I think it’ll pay off for us.”
Coming off the Dan Gable Donnybrook last weekend to Monday’s tournament, the Raiders still have duals upcoming this Thursday and Saturday.
Area Results (placements only)
105 — 2nd: Emily Sieren (English Valleys); 6th: Ryleigh Jones (Williamsburg); 7th: Kenley Koenig (Iowa Valley)
115 — 8th: Anya Rivera (Williamsburg)
120 — 5th: Hayden Wade (Williamsburg)
125 — 1st: Keston Spratt (Williamsburg)
130 — 6th: Skyler Hoyt (Iowa Valley)
135 — 2nd: Cecelia Gryp (Williamsburg)
140 — 4th: Kodie Holcomb (Iowa Valley)
155 — 3rd: Lilly Ness (Williamsburg); 8th: Maggie Kriegel (Iowa Valley)
170 — 3rd: Raelene Hakwins (Iowa Valley)
190 — 4th: Bristol VanZuiden (Williamsburg)
235 — 6th: Bella Schott (English Valleys)
