SOLON — The 2023-2024 wrestling season opened this week for the Lady Spartans with a junior varsity (JV) meet in Independence Monday, and an appearance in South Tama’s tournament Thursday followed by Independence’s tournament Saturday (Nov. 18). It’s the second season as a fully sanctioned sport (by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU)) and head coach Jake Munson has a roster of 22 including 11 returning letterwinners.
Seniors Audreyanna Gerdes (130/135 lbs.), Kendall Jensen (155/170), Kate Richards (115/120), and Morgan Rogers (115/120) lead the squad with juniors Olivia Bonnema (140/145) and Kara VeDepo (105/120). Bonnema and VeDepo were both State Qualifiers last season at 135 and 110 lbs. respectively.
Sophomores Alexis Anderson (130/135), Abby Gregory (115/120), Adlie Miller (170/190), and McKenna Rogers (110/115) also return. Rogers took fifth at 105 lbs. at last year’s inaugural State Meet and was the WaMaC Conference Champion.
Newcomers include juniors Makayla Keller (130/135) and Lucy Miller (135/140), and freshmen Irelynd Hagarty (115/120), Gabrielle Jedlicka (125/130), Taylor Jett (125/130), Avery Kellen (190/235), Layla Knazze (100/105), Harper Nicholson (145/155), Emily Pence (105/110), Tess Richards (110/115), and Haiden Wolfe (235). Richards was an AAU State Runner up last year as an eighth grader while Wolfe took fifth last year at AAU State.
Solon went 8-7 in dual meets last season with a 4-1 showing in the WaMaC conference.
For Munson, a 2001 graduate of Solon High School, its his fourth year with the Lady Spartans and 14th year coaching wrestling overall. He’ll be assisted by Kaitlin Hatcher 2015 Solon grad and three years with the program), TJ Bevans (2002 Solon grad, 17 years’ experience, second with the Lady Spartans), Trinity Chapman (2021 Solon grad, former captain of the girls wrestling program, 1st year coaching), and Brian Jett (1st year coaching).
Coach Munson noted “We also have 45 K-8 girls wrestling in our Solon Girls Wrestling Club.”
The first home meet (JV/varsity duel) is set for Thursday, Dec. 7 against WaMaC West foe Williamsburg at 6:00 p.m. on Youth Night.
Lady Spartans start their season this week
November 16, 2023
Lily Warnock • Contributed photo
The Lady Spartans wrestling team poses for a group photo during a recent practice. Their season, the second as an IGHSAU-sanctioned sport, started Monday (Nov. 13) with a JV tournament and with the South Tama tournament Thursday (Nov. 16).
