September 07, 2024

Sistad stands alone as state champion

By JARED LARSON

Savannah Sistad becomes the 2022 Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association's 220 pound state campion Saturday. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union announced Saturday it will sanction girls wrestling starting the 2022-23 school year. The decision to include the increasingly popular sport was made at the union’s Jan. 12 meeting of its board of directors, making it the 34th state to do so. (Kristi Nixon via Enterprise Journal)

CORALVILLE – Saturday evening, Creston sophomore Savannah Sistad became the first girls wrestling state champion in Creston history.

“We don’t officially have a girls program so she ends up practicing with the boys a lot and she is kind of just one of the guys during the week,” Creston head coach Cody Downing said. “A lot of the times she’s on her own at girls meets and it means a lot and it shows the perseverance she has.”

Sistad won by 3-0 decision over Missouri Valley’s Jocelyn Buffum in the 220 pound class.

Her other victories over the two-day Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association state tournament include a 2-1 decision over Madison Hinrichs of Waverly-Shell Rock, a pin of Sheldon/South O’Brien’s Mariel Feekes in 1:11 and a pin over Dallas Center-Grimes Halley Beaudet in 1:41 en route to the finals.

With the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union officially sponsoring girls wrestling starting next season, it is possible that there will be more girls wrestling during the 2022-2023 season at Creston.

Over 700 girls competed at the state championships this year.

“I think it opens the door for girls wrestling in our community and a possibility of a girls wrestling program,” Downing said. “It’s not going to hurt anything and I think it’s going to be a good opportunity for girls to have their own team and to practice as a collective unit moving forward we’ll see what doors this opens for us.”

Sistad has put in the work and the effort all season, and also, coach Downing is proud of her because she’ll continue to hold her own next season.

“I’m excited for Savannah because she has to put up with a lot of boys all year,” Downing said.

First place match video, FloWrestling subscription required.