Berns and Medberry making return trips to state
Mayleigh Medberry (left) qualified for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state wrestling tournament at 130 pounds, and Reese Berns qualified at 125 pounds. The two, who have been to state previously, posed for a photo with coaches Colten Ledbeter and Abby Heitman at the state qualifying meet in East Buchanan on Jan. 31. (Photos by Willis Patenaude)
Mayleigh Medberry defeated Lyni Gusick of Alburnett in the 130-pound first-place match, punching her return trip to state.
Mayleigh Medberry faces Kara Knipper of East Buchanan in the semifinals.
Reese Berns dispatched of Amelia Walk from Saint Ansgar in the 125-pound first-place match. She’s headed to the state tournament for the third time.
Reese Berns takes control of the match against East Buchanan's Kaitlyn Krum.
Mylee Mueller controls Makenna Brissey of Center Point-Urbana at the state qualifying meet in East Buchanan.
By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register
On arriving at East Buchanan High School on Jan. 31, you could tell something important was going on, as throngs of people walked hurriedly to the main entrance and cars packed along the roadside, turning a once simple jaunt into a lengthy excursion into crowded hallways and doorways. There were sounds of coaches shouting instructions, parents cheering from the sidelines and cheerleaders pounding the mats, performing routines in perfect unison.
Inside the gyms, wrestlers representing 19 schools were competing at the IGHSAU 1A Regional 3 for a chance to qualify for state. Among the teams were the Central Warriors, led by coach Colten Ledbeter and assistant Abby Heitman, who assembled a small, but mighty threesome of wrestlers this season, all of whom had a chance of making it to state.
At 155 pounds, that chance rested on freshman Mylee Mueller. Coming off a third place finish at the Upper Iowa Conference girls tournament, Mueller started the day receiving two byes, before wrestling her first match in the quarterfinals against Regan Jensen of Algona. An early takedown led to an early loss for Mueller, but the day and the chance at state was still alive as long as she kept winning.
Mueller wrestled Lucy Klavitter from Wahlert Catholic in consolation round four and showed what can be when she’s wrestling to form, quickly dispatching Klavitter with a pin in 34 seconds. Mueller next stood strong against Makenna Brissey from Center Point-Urbana, taking the match into the second period and only giving up two points. But shortly after the three-minute mark, she was pinned, ending her day and hopes of state.
Senior Reese Berns was no stranger to making it to state, having been the previous two seasons. Making it back was always the goal, but so was placing first at regionals. Entering the tournament as the UIC champion at 125 pounds, Berns took byes through to the quarterfinals, the first roadblock to making it back to state and wiping away the pain of losing in the “blood round,” the second round of consolation matches in a tournament, and failing to podium as a sophomore and junior.
“This year, that gives me the motivation as a senior to have success and work toward the top of the podium. I have a much more positive mindset this season because I know it’s my last shot to accomplish the goal I have had since my sophomore year,” Berns said. “I never want to feel the pain of losing in the blood round again.”
In her way in the quarterfinal round was Odessa Oyle from South Winneshiek, who never stood a chance. Berns got an immediate takedown and heard the ref’s hand slap the mat 24 seconds into the first period. It was one down and two more to go.
In the semifinals, Berns was matched against home crowd favorite, East Buchanan’s Kaitlyn Krum, but Berns scored points seemingly at will, with two takedowns, two near falls and an escape, making it 15-0 and bringing the match to an end after four minutes. Two down, and one to go.
The first-place match featured Berns against Amelia Walk from Saint Ansgar, and for over two rounds, Berns proved superior, scoring on two near falls and two reversals, before ending it in the third period with a pin. It secured a spot at state and one final shot to stand on the podium.
“One of my goals this season was placing first at regionals. I accomplished that goal, but there was so much more from that night that makes me feel amazing,” Berns said. “I felt like I was in control of every match and they were not able to score. I stayed in good position and had control of each of my opponents, which makes me feel more confident when going to state.”
Like Berns, junior Mayleigh Medberry has also been to state, so returning was always on the list of goals.
“Win regionals was written both on my beginning-of-the-year goal sheet and repeatedly on my whiteboard calendar I keep in my bedroom,” Medberry said.
The reigning 130-pound UIC champion also earned opening round byes, before competing against a familiar foe in Isabelle White from Postville in the quarterfinals. There, Medberry did what she does best, staying patient and scoring points, racking up 19 points on three takedowns, two near falls and a penalty point. She coasted to a 19-1 technical fall victory midway through the third period.
“This season, I have worked on being patient during matches and waiting for my opportunity. I think that can apply to many things in life. ‘Good things come to those who wait.’ Be patient, be calm and believe in yourself,” Medberry said.
The semifinals against Kara Knipper from East Buchanan was a little louder due to the hometown crowd, but Medberry cut through the noise and Knipper, scoring two first-period takedowns and getting a pin around the 90-second mark.
Medberry’s finals match came immediately following her teammate Berns, and the two have developed quite a bond over the last few seasons, as training partners and as friends.
“Mayleigh and I have always pushed each other every year because state has been our number one goal the last how many years,” Berns said.
Walking onto the mat for the first-place match, there was some uncertainty in the air from those who knew the stakes and also knew Medberry had never defeated 22-1 Lyni Gusick from Alburnett. In fact, the last time Medberry faced Gusick was at the Central Girls Tournament in early December, in a match Gusick won by fall.
It’s also a fact Medberry seemed to recognize, entering the circle “being unsure” of how the match would unfold.
“I knew, if I didn’t give it my all, I would carry regret for who knows how long. I took a deep breath and shook out my arms before shaking her hand,” Medberry said.
Medberry was patient, relaxed and methodical, scoring an early takedown. Though Gusick evened the score 3-3 in the second period, Medberry never wavered from her game plan. Through the crowd, you could hear Ledbeter and Heitman giving instructions, and Central boys wrestling coach Joe Koehn’s voice thundered from the bleachers with more match strategies.
On the other side, Gusick’s coaches were left to complain about Medberry’s tactics, which were holding Gusick at bay and scoring points, including an escape and a takedown before finally slaying the final beast with an 8-3 decision and a return to state.
“The match flew by, and getting my hand raised had never felt so good. I ran to my coaches and teammates, who were equally or even more excited than me,” Medberry said. “This is the second time I have gone to state alongside my practice partner Reese, but this year it meant all the more. One, we won regionals, and two, this is one of the last times we can win together.”
Together, Medberry and Berns have made history and, together, will carry the Central banner into the state tournament at Coralville on Feb. 6 and 7. They are in search of a podium and one final memory as teammates, as partners and as Warriors.
