Jayhawk's McCarty takes fourth place in state wrestling tourney

The Jayhawk girls wrestlers who qualified to compete at the state meet include, kneeing from left, Alayna McCarty, Tara Weller, Hailei Fortman, Gracee Willard, Rowan Day, Madelyn McCool, and Clair Smith. Head girls coach Nicki Traul and assistant coach Brody White have guided the team to their first state appearance since the program began eight years ago. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal. com

Jayhawk freshman Alayna McCarty won the fourth-place medal for the 120 pound class at the state Class 3-1A girls wrestling tournament on Saturday, March 1. It is the first state medal for a Jayhawk girl since the girls program started three years ago.

Alayna McCarty

McCarty, now with 36 wins and 9 losses for the season, started her state run strong on Friday. She won her first round by a fall, her second round by a 6-3 decision, but was pinned late in her third round to send her into the third-place bracket. There she won her fourth match by a 6-1 decision before losing by a fall in the final round for third place.

This year was also the first year that any competitor from the girls team qualified for state. The team placed third in the regional tournament, sending seven wrestlers to the state tourney.

Here is how the rest of the team fared:

• Hallei Fortman, 125 pounds, was pinned in the first round but won by a fall in her second round. She was pinned in the third round, and will go home without a medal.

• Gracee Willard, 145 pounds, lost her first round by a fall but won her second round by a fall. The senior was pinned in the third match, ending her high school career with a regional medal and a trip to state.

• Rowan Day, 115 pounds, won by a fall in her first match but was pinned in the second match. She lost her third match by a fall, ending her state run.

• Clair Smith, 190 pounds, was pinned in her first round but won her second round by a fall. However, the senior was pinned in her third match and will end her high school career with a regional medal and the memory of the state meet.

• Madelyn McCool, 105 pounds, was pinned in her first match and lost her second match on a major decision, ending her hopes of a medal.

• Tara Weller, 140 pounds, lost by a fall in her first round, and lost in the second round on a 6-0 decision. The senior's high school career will end with a regional medal and a trip to state.

The Jayhawk girls wrestling team that traveled to Rossville for the Class 3-1A regional tourney. (Submitted photo)

Other Jayhawk wrestlers competing at the regional tourney were senior Leah Nation, 130, 17-14; sophomore Allison Willard, 155, 10-17; freshman Hazel Vaughn, 170, 15-15; and freshman Alivia Lohman, 135, 9-22.