Pape first, Bachman second at Decorah girls wrestling tournament
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
MFL MarMac senior Kadence Pape placed first and sophomore Mackenzie Bachman second at the Jan. 21 Decorah Girls Wrestling Winter Tournament.
The event was the last major competition before the Jan. 27 regionals, which will determine which wrestlers head to state.
After an opening round bye, Pape collected falls in the quarter and semifinals in the 120-pound bracket—the latter of which came in just 18 seconds. She carried that success into the first-place match, securing a fall in 5:27 over Brinley Meier of Waverly-Shell Rock.
Pape is now 31-2 on the season and has won six tournaments. She’s currently ranked sixth in the state at 120 pounds.
Bachman, wrestling at 135 pounds, picked up two hard-fought pins in her quarter and semifinal matches. Decorah’s Anastasia Simon came out on top in the championship bout, though, edging Bachman in a 6-4 decision.
MFL MarMac’s three other wrestlers, Amelya Weigand, Danica Friedlein and Audrey Ruff, did not place at the tournament.
Weigand went 1-2 on the day, losing her opening match by fall but rebounding with a pin in the first consolation round. South Winneshiek’s Abby Wagner then got the best of Weigand with a fall in consolation round two.
Friedlein also finished the tournament 1-2 at 145 pounds, winning her first match by fall before losing by pin and a 9-2 decision in the next two bouts.
Similar to Weigand, Ruff was pinned in the 155-pound opener but bounced back with a fall of her own in the first consolation round. Ruff fought through the next match, eventually getting pinned in 5:42 by Allie Johnson of New Hampton/Turkey Valley.
The Bulldogs will compete in the Regional Tournament Friday, Jan. 27, at Luther College in Decorah. MFL MarMac will be among the 20 teams in Region 7. The top four place winners at each regional will qualify for the 2023 girls state championships, which will be held at the Xtream Arena in Coralville Feb. 2-3.
