CEDAR RAPIDS — In the lead up to the 2024 Girls State Wrestling Tournament, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) held eight regional tournaments last week with the Lady Spartans competing in a Super Regional (Regions 5 and 6) Friday at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids.
Solon took fifth out of 24 teams in Region 6 as Kara VeDepo, McKenna Rogers, Alannah Mahoney, and Olivia Bonnema qualified for this week’s State Tourney.
VeDepo won at 100 pounds pinning Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Terranae Wyatt in 1:31 in the quarterfinals and Liberty High’s Taylor Cavanh in 5:25 in the semis. VeDepo defeated Bettendorf’s Olivia Hernandez with a 15-0 technical fall (3:02) for the championship. She qualified for State last year at 110 pounds and was ranked ninth in the state in IAwrestle’s Jan. 29 rankings.
“Kara made the decision to cut down to 100 lbs. this season and she has been wrestling extremely well at that weight class,” said Coach Jake Munson. “In her finals match she won by tech fall over another state-ranked opponent. Kara is methodical in her approach and has been wrestling great this whole season.”
Rogers took second at 105 pinning Benton Community’s Sloane Slouha in 36 seconds in the quarterfinals and Davenport’s Jacey Mason (1:30) in the semis. Durant’s Lainey Shelangoski took a 7-4 decision from her in the championship battle. Rogers placed fifth in last year’s State Tourney and was ranked third in IAwrestle’s Jan. 29 rankings.
“McKenna is one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the state tournament and a wrestler that no coach wants their wrestler to draw in the state tournament,” Munson said. “She had some injury and illness issues earlier this season but is healthy heading into the State Tournament and, as always, will leave everything she has on the mat.”
Mahoney took third at 120 pinning North Scott’s Chloe Hundertmark in the 2nd round but falling to Kennedy’s Olivia Hallam in the quarterfinals. She pinned Durant’s Mia Berry (1:48) in the fourth consolation round and Benton’s Kaitlyn Bonewitz in the fifth in 56 seconds before pinning Assumption’s Olivia Rogalla (1:44) in the consolation semis to advance to the third place match where she took an 8-3 decision from Kennedy’s Hallam.
“It’s been fun to watch Alannah realize that she is a great wrestler and see her confidence grow over the course of the season,” said Munson. “Alannah is explosive on her feet and will create some exciting scrambles.”
Bonnema took third at 140 pinning Alburnett’s Lilly Steen (1:02) in the second round but falling to Vinton-Shellsburg’s Sadie Burke in the quarterfinals. Bonnema pinned Burlington’s Lauren Briggs (1:34) in the fourth consolation round, Western Dubuque’s Sarah Roling (3:05) in the fifth, and Mount Vernon’s Adeline Whisner (1:49) in the consolation semis before taking a 5-1 decision from Vinton-Shellsburg’s Sadie Burke in the third place match. She was a State Qualifier last year.
“Olivia is our team captain and vocal leader in our wrestling room, Munson said. “She’s wrestled well at Super Regional after losing her first match. Bonnema is a grinder and the longer a match goes, the better chance she has of winning it.”
Alexis Anderson and Kendall Jensen took sixth place at 135 and 155 pounds. Anderson pinned Burlington’s Gemma Plummer in 39 seconds in the fifth consolation round. Jensen won in sudden victory over Highland-Riverside’s Peggy Miller (6-4).
Emily Pence (110), Kate Richards (115), Taylor Jett (125), Makayla Keller (130), Lucianna “Lucy” Miller (145), and Haiden Wolfe (235) did not place.
Coach Munson said the team’s focus for the week leading up to the Super Regional was on wrestling their best versus being focused on results. “And our team did that very well,” he said. “We had six wrestlers finish in the top-six of their weight classes and had four qualify for the State Tournament. We plan to take the momentum we’ve built the past few weeks to State Thursday at the Xtream Arena in Coralville. Three of our four qualifiers wrestled in the State Tournament last season so they know what to expect and will be prepared to wrestle.”
The 2024 State Tournament will be held Thursday and Friday, Feb. 1 and 2 with doors opening at 9:00 a.m. and the action starting at 10:00 a.m.
Full details on schedule, parking, and tickets can be found at https://ighsau.org/news/wrestling-postseason-central/.