The Republic girls wrestling team improved its dual meet record to 9-1 with a 46-22 victory over Kickapoo on Wednesday.
Ashleigh Dustin earned her first career win, pinning Vanessa Levinson in the 155-pound weight class. She was one of four Republic wrestlers to win by fall.
Gabby Shanks (135), Aara Shade (140), Addison Stepp (145), and Dustin won by fall for Republic. Rachel Clark added a 10-0 major decision at 115 pounds.
Dorothy Waterman (100), Millie Waterman (120), and Abby Horn (130) won by forfeit for Republic.
Coach Eric Nolan said Dustin’s win exemplified the progress made by Republic’s wrestlers. “We’ve got some sophomores and juniors right now that were first-year wrestlers last year that took a lot of lumps. And now they’ve got well above .500 records,” he said. “We keep encouraging some of our younger girls that are brand new that, hey, you have to pay your dues. And sometimes losing’s not fun, but as long as we can learn from it and get better and improve over time, we have evidence on our own team of what can happen in just a year’s time.”
Republic will compete in the Central Ozark Conference Tournament at Joplin on Friday.
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