Led by a pair of undefeated championship runs from Mabel Rogers and Millie Waterman, the Republic Lady Tigers wrestled their way to a third-place team finish at the Lady Mustang Invitational on Friday. Rogers and Waterman combined for a perfect 9-0 record—earning bonus points in every match—to headline a strong tournament for Republic, which saw six wrestlers reach the podium and the team rack up 137.5 points in a competitive field at McDonald County.
Champions (1st Place) Millie Waterman (120 lbs) Waterman was dominant, tearing through the 120-pound bracket with a perfect 5-0 record. She pinned every single opponent she faced, showcasing incredible efficiency by ending three of her matches in the first minute alone. Her quickest victory was a 39-second pin over Webb City’s Ivy Nobis, and she capped off her tournament with a first-period fall (1:46) over McDonald County’s Laina Thomas to secure the title.
Mabel Rogers (115 lbs) Rogers swept through the 115-pound bracket, going 4-0 with three technical falls and one pin. She overwhelmed her competition, winning her first three bouts by a combined score of 54-4. In her final match, she sealed her first-place finish with a pin against McDonald County’s Jaqueline Teneyuque in just 1:13.
Finalists (2nd Place)
Rachel Clark (105 lbs) Clark navigated a tough Round Robin bracket to claim 2nd Place. Wrestling five matches in a single day, she faced every other girl in the weight class. Despite losses to McDonald County and Nixa, her ability to secure bonus points in her wins was crucial. She pinned her Kickapoo opponent and dominated her final two matches with major decisions over Claremore (17-3) and Webb City (11-0) to lock up the silver medal.
Aara Shade (170 lbs) Shade was a finalist for Republic, securing 2nd Place. She reached the championship match efficiently with a bye and two pins, including a 25-second fall against Ozark. In the finals, she ran into a tough opponent from Claremore, dropping a competitive 5-0 decision.
3rd Place Finishers
Bre-Elle Gutierrez (110 lbs) Gutierrez battled back to take 3rd Place, finishing the day with a 4-1 record. After winning her first three matches by fall, she dropped a semifinal bout to the eventual champion from El Dorado Springs. She rebounded immediately in the medal match, pinning teammate Reese Tate to secure the bronze.
Gabby Shanks (135 lbs) After an early-round setback, Shanks rattled off three consecutive victories to storm through the consolation side of the bracket. She ended all five of her wins in the first period, including a 21-second pin in her final match to secure third place.
Get every story delivered.
Tiger Wire — Republic sports news, free every morning.