Republic takes its highest hopes ever into state-qualifying matches Saturday at the Class 2 District 3 girls wrestling tournament.
The Lady Tigers have six wrestlers in the semifinals after Friday’s start, each one win away from clinching a spot at state. Republic has never sent more than one wrestler to the state tournament in a single season. Millie Waterman qualified last year. That record could fall Saturday morning, because a win in the semifinals guarantees a state berth. (Semifinal losers must work their way back through the bracket.)
Bre-Elle Gutierrez (110), Mabel Rogers (115), Waterman (120), Savannah Bratten (125), Gabby Shanks (135) and Aara Shade (170) all advanced through the first two rounds Friday.
Gutierrez reached the semifinals with back-to-back falls, pinning Neveah Moten of Branson in 3:43 and Natalie Hernandez of Kickapoo in 3:29. She will face Ashton Mayes of Nixa.
Rogers opened with a bye, then earned a 15-0 technical fall in 1:04 over Andrea Brown of Rolla to move into the semifinals. She meets Katherine Madrid of Smith-Cotton.
Waterman, last year’s state qualifier, recorded two falls Friday — pinning Adalee Gray of Rolla in 4:45 and Callie Wilson of Ozark in 1:34. She draws Dakota Nix of Waynesville.
Bratten pinned Abigail Hayes of Belton in 1:47 after a first-round bye and will face Neela Motlagh of Willard.
Shanks needed less than a minute in each of her first two matches, pinning Amariah Johnson of Belton in 14 seconds and Kylie Hawkins of Rolla in 36 seconds. She meets Brylee James of Nixa.
Shade advanced with two falls as well, pinning Crystal Little of Smith-Cotton in 2:37 and Kaniylah Bluford of Kickapoo in 4:45. She faces Avery Tennison of Ozark.
Republic also remains alive in the consolation bracket at multiple weights.
Rachel Clark (100) will wrestle Aimar Torres Hinojos of Belton in the consolation bracket. Reese Tate (105) meets Natalie Mata of Parkview. Ashleigh Dustin (140) faces Candace Gibbs of Rolla. Chloe Simpson (145) will take on Alivia Washington of Smith-Cotton. Anna McBroom (155) meets Kirsten Abeya of Ozark. Annyshna Lealaiauloto (235) faces Kyra Samuel of Kickapoo.
Republic totaled 43.5 team points through two rounds.
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