Rentschler takes 4th place, Martinez 6th
TMB/WWG’s Evelyn Rentschler came within two wins of reaching the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament at the two-day, three-class Section 3A Girls’ Wrestling Tournament in Redwood Falls last week.
Rentschler’s first day last Friday didn’t start out that well, as she was pinned by Marshall’s Yasha Sleiter in 5:53.
She then won her next three matches, all by falls — including a pin over Sleiter, whom she had lost to three times this season — to earn a spot in the third-place match against Hasting’s Elyse Versland.
Unfortunately, Rentschler, who wrestles at 142 pounds, was bested by Versland by a 9-1 major decision to finish in fourth place.
“It was good to see her hard work pay off,” TMB/WWG coach Karl Campbell said.
Rentschler was one of five Panthers to compete in sections:
148 POUNDS
Bella Martinez, a freshman, started strong Friday with a quick pin of Nya Woody of Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle Valley, then fell to Emma Taylor of Hastings.
However, she battled back with another quick fall over Layla Keenan of Two Rivers before falling to Mackena Tweedt of Jackson County Central in the consolation semifinals.
In the fifth-place match, Martinez was pinned by Harriet McGrath of St. Paul Central. She, along with Rentschler, are the first in the program history to medal at sections.
“(Martinez) was way up in the score in the consolation semis, and made a mistake and got pinned,” Campbell said. “Bella has been our most successful girl this season as far as wins and losses, so she was disappointed.”
118 POUNDS
Seventh-grader Braya Schreier lost to Analeigh Cruz of St. James-Madelia in a 9-8 decision but bounced back and pinned Alicia Hernandez of Pipestone Area in 3:33. Schreier was pinned by Red Rock Central’s Izzy Chmelar in her third match. She finished just one match away from the podium.
“She came up seconds short of a takedown in the opening round that would have won her the first match,” Campbell said.
124 POUNDS
Freshman Jayda Snyder was pinned in the first round by Mary Rock of Luverne. She then lost by technical fall to Ashlin Gibson of MAHA.
Snyder wrestled in a division Campbell said was likely the deepest and most difficult weight class. She lost to the girls who finished third and fifth.
130 POUNDS
Raelynn Schreier, a sophomore, began her day Friday with a loss to Hasting’s Olivia Levine, then was pinned by Betsy Trosen on Hutchinson.
BRAYA SCHREIER gets a high-five from Sophia Del Angel after a win.
BELLA MARTINEZ gets instructions from coach Karl Campbell.
RAELYNN SCHREIER was 0-2 at sections. Photos / Per Peterson
EVELYN RENTSCHLER placed fourth at sections.
EARNING ALL-ACADEMIC HONORS for TMB/WWG are, from left: Evelyn Rentschler, Sophia Del Angel, Kaylie Johnson, Jayda Snyder and Bella Martinez. Student-athletes need above a 3.3 GPA to qualify.
