Mabel Rogers expected to win the Class 2 state title at 115 pounds. She didn’t expect to win it like that.
The Republic freshman tech-falled Branson’s Alyssa Salemie 16-0 in 3:31 to cap a 42-0 season and claim the first girls wrestling state championship in Republic history.
“I knew I was gonna do good. I told myself that I was gonna win,” Rogers said. “But holy crap, a tech fall — I think that’s pretty crazy.”
Rogers is the first state champion in the history of Republic’s girls wrestling program and the school’s first wrestling state champion of any kind since 2008. She scored 27.5 team points across four matches and was never seriously threatened.
She opened with a tech fall over Jackson’s Lillie Morningstar, 18-3 in 4:23. In the quarterfinals, she shut out North Kansas City’s Anh Ngo in a 14-0 major decision. She tech-falled Lee’s Summit North’s Avery Edwards 15-0 in the semis before closing with the title-match tech fall over Salemie.
Rogers, who has competed and won tournaments at the national level, said her mindset carried her through the weekend.
“I was really confident. I was a little nervous, but you need that to enjoy the sport,” she said. “I think that’s a big part — my mindset.”
What she didn’t expect was what came after her victory.
“I didn’t expect myself to cry,” Rogers said. “I’ve never cried from winning first place before.”
Coach Eric Nolan called Rogers’s title a landmark for the program.
“Mabel winning our first state title in history for our girls team, second person to ever win a state title in wrestling in Republic history — it’s just a real special moment for our program,” Nolan said.
Rogers’s four opponents went a combined 129-41 this season. None scored more than three points against her.
115 Class 2 — Mabel Rogers (42-0), 1st place, 27.5 team points
Champ. Round 1: Rogers tech fall Lillie Morningstar (Jackson), 18-3 (4:23)
Quarterfinal: Rogers major dec. Anh Ngo (North Kansas City), 14-0
Semifinal: Rogers tech fall Avery Edwards (Lee’s Summit North), 15-0 (4:55)
1st Place: Rogers tech fall Alyssa Salemie (Branson), 16-0 (3:31)
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