January 22, 2025

Panther girls second in home tourney

Creston’s Kruse, Marlin win titles

By LARRY PETERSON
Creston's Karlie Kruse locks up a pin against Kendra Krause of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in the 125-pound championship match at Thursday's Creston Girls Invitational. Kruse won by two falls and a major decision.

Creston's Karlie Kruse locks up a pin against Kendra Krause of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in the 125-pound championship match at Friday's Creston Girls Invitational. Kruse won by two falls and a major decision. (Larry Peterson)

Creston had two champions and placed second behind Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in the Creston Girls Invitational wrestling tournament Friday night.

EBF had eight champions, including the meet’s only entry at 235 pounds, and finished with 253.5 points. Creston topped Clarinda for second place with 156.5 points. The Cardinals compiled 141 points. East Union took seventh in the 11-team field with 49 points, led by 100-pound runner-up Quynn Foster.

Creston’s Evy Marlin dominated the 135-pound class with three pins and a 15-0 technical fall over runner-up Madison Connell of EBF. Freshman Karlie Kruse was Creston’s other champion, rallying from an early deficit in the to win by fall against Kendra Krause of EBF with five seconds left in their 125-pound title bout.

“Evy looked really tough,” Creston coach Maggie Arnold said. “She had a cramp in her calf after the match, but it didn’t bother her during the match. We knew that Karlie’s opponent was a very good wrestler on top. Once we got Karlie on her feet in the third period I felt pretty good about it.”

Evy Marlin of Creston works for her third pin in Thursday's tournament on the way to winning the 135-pound division. Marlin won by a technical fall in her fourth match.

Evy Marlin of Creston works for her third pin in Friday's tournament on the way to winning the 135-pound division. Marlin won by a technical fall in her fourth match. (Larry Peterson)

Finishing second for the Panthers were Nevaeh Chesnut (105), Alainah Galanakis (120) and Grace Keeler (140). Nine Panthers placed in the top four.

“I’m pretty happy with our performance,” Arnold said. “We did some things well, and we saw some things we still need to work on. I knew EBF was going to be very good. We will see them at regionals so it was good to get some head-to-heads against them. That will help us figure out what we need to work on.”

Senior night

Prior to the tournament, senior wrestlers Karter Clayton, Zoey Vandevender and Marlin and manager Sasha Wurster were honored with their parents.

“That a good senior class,” Arnold said. “We will definitely miss them. We need to make the most of what we have with them yet this year.”

Creston Karter Clayton starts to earn nearfall points during a victory over Jacey Stafford of Southeast Warren. Clayton placed third and was one of four seniors in the program honored before the tournament.

Creston Karter Clayton starts to earn nearfall points during a victory over Jacey Stafford of Southeast Warren. Clayton placed third and was one of four seniors in the program honored before the tournament. (Larry Peterson)

The Panthers competed Monday in the Lewis Central Tournament and wrestle in the Atlantic Invitational Saturday. The Panthers placed eighth at LC among 23 teams, with 94.5 points. Logan-Magnolia-Woodbine topped Lewis Central in the top two placings, 168-132.5. Clarinda was fourth with 126.5 points.

Galanakis was the 120-pound champion at Lewis Central. Taking third were Kruse (125) and Keeler (140). Chesnut placed fifth at 105 and Vandevender was sixth at 130. Marlin was recovering from calf soreness from Thursday’s action and did not participate Monday.

Sydney Hoffman of Creston wins by fall over Kaitlyn Glen of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in the consolation semifinals Thursday. Hoffman placed fourth in the tournament at 115 pounds.

Sydney Hoffman of Creston wins by fall over Kaitlyn Glen of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in the consolation semifinals Friday. Hoffman placed fourth in the tournament at 115 pounds. (Larry Peterson)

Creston Girls Invitational

Team scoring — 1. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 253.5; 2. Creston 156.5; 3. Clarinda 141; 4. Martensdale-St. Marys 84; 5. (tie) Interstate 35 and Moravia 52; 7. East Union 49; 8. (tie) Omaha Westside and Winterset 45; 10. Shenandoah 35; 11. Southeast Warren 32.

Finals

100 — 1. Hollie Roberts (EDBF) pinned Quynn Foster (EU), 0:58; 3. Penelope Wearmouth (MSTM) pinned Destiny Easley (Clar), 4:00.

105 — 1. Gracee Wade (EDBF) pinned Nevaeh Chesnut (Crest), 3:53; 3. Ashley Hardy (Shen) pinned Ellie Michelson (Wint), 0:54.

110 — 1. Abigail Durflinger (EDBF) pinned Kambry Gordon (Clar), 1:15; 3. Karter Clayton (Crest) pinned Myla Hehring (MSTM), 1:10.

115 — 1. Kate Krause (EDBF) pinned Gretchen Wearmouth (MSTM), 1:36; 3. Paisley Johnson (EDBF) pinned Sydney Hoffman (Crest), 2:39.

120 — 1. Georgia Smith (EDBF) major dec. Alainah Galanakis (Crest), 8-0; 3. Adison Glosser (EDBF) pinned Charlotte Gerdts (Clar), 2:30.

125 — 1. Karlie Kruse (Crest) pinned Kendra Krause (EDBF), 5:55; 3. Maddie McCoy (Clar) pinned Morgan Dickinson (I-35), 1:18.

130 — 1. Miley Kirkpatrick (EDBF) pinned Layla Ewing (Mor), 3:27. 3. Kylar Downey (Clar) pinned Zoey Vandevender (Crest), 3:33.

135 — 1. Evy Marlin (Crest) tech. fall Madison Connell (EDBF), 3:30 (15-0); 3. Brooklyn Dilworth (West) pinned Kenna Spencer (Mor), 0:51.

140 — 1. Lily Weinreich (Clar) pinned Grace Keeler (Crest), 5:43; 3. Emma VanGorp (EDBF) pinned Kaydee Cossolotto (Mor), 1:10.

145 — 1. Chloe Nelson (Shen) pinned Cheyenne Dike (EU), 3:31; 3. Autum Schwabe (Wint) pinned Lydia Williams (Crest), 3:18.

155 — 1. Chelsea Smith (EDBF) pinned Glorious Fridley (SEW), 1:57; 3. Lucy Wing (West) pinned Skylar Johansen (MSTM), 5:26.

170 — 1. Jalon Olson (Clar) pinned Lilly Gibbons (MSTM), 0:46; 3. Betsy Jones (I-35) pinned Ariana Hough (Wint), 0:48.

190 — 1. Aliyah Payne (Clar) dec. Ellie Hutton (I-35), 8-1; 3. Atalissa Lobberecht (EDBF) pinned Danikka Barber (Crest), 0:29.

235 — 1. Ella Ray (EDBF) only entry.

Larry Peterson

LARRY PETERSON

Former senior feature writer at Creston News Advertiser and columnist. Previous positions include sports editor for many years and assistant editor. Also a middle school basketball coach in Creston.