Girls program shines in tournaments

For the first time, Creston girls wrestling competed as its own entity this winter, without a sharing agreement with other schools, and coach Maggie Arnold deemed it a success at the team’s awards banquet on March 20.

Hampered by depth issues with eight healthy wrestlers at season’s end, the Panthers managed a 6-5 dual meet record, but showed its true strength in tournament scoring.

The highlight for the Panthers was winning the Clarinda Tournament with 172 points. Creston also placed second at the Panther Invitational and at the regional meet, and took third at the West Central Valley Invitational.

“Our low number didn’t really allow us to compete as a dual team like we were hoping for, but this was a heck of a tournament team,” Arnold noted. “We highlighted our season by winning the 18-team tournament at Clarinda and we had finalists in every tournament.”

The team produced four state qualifiers — sophomore Alainah Galanakis (120 pounds), freshman Karlie Kruse (fifth at 125), senior Evy Marlin (fourth at 135) and junior Grace Keeler (140).

In team awards based on the votes of team members, Marlin received the Miss Creston Girls Wrestling Award. Arnold said the award embodies what being a Creston girl wrestler means — successful, tough, driven and committed. Marlin had a 44-7 match record as a senior and leaves the program as the record-holder for career wins (98). Marlin said she plans to wrestle in college but hasn’t made a decision yet.

Kruse won the Most Valuable Teammate award as a freshman, based on effort in practice and competition and being an outstanding partner and teammate.

Nevaeh Chesnut, a junior out for wrestling for the first time, received the Most Improved Wrestler award for showing technical wrestling growth from the first day of practice to the season’s end.

Marlin, Zoey Vandevender and Karter Clayton were honored as senior wrestlers, along with senior manager Sasha Wurster.

Vandevender missed the first half of the season with an elbow injury, but came back to post a 19-12 record and falling in the regional consolation semifinals. She ranks third in program career wins with 72. Clayton compiled a 23-15 record as a first-year wrestler.

The team also excelled academically with a team GPA of 3.568. That earned a distinguished academic achievement award from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Upperclass state qualifiers with a GPA of 3.5 or above received Academic All-State Honorable Mention from the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association and Keeler received that award.

Chesnut, Galanakis, Vandevender, Keeler and Kruse received scholar All-American awards from the National Wrestling Coaches Association as varsity letterwinners with a GPA of 3.5 or above.

Arnold also thanked boys coach Cody Downing and his staff, and volunteer assistants Mario Galanakis and Wade Bolinger for their contributions to the program, as well as Creston Express Wrestling Club for assisting in costs of overnight trips and finals singlets.

“The Creston community has rallied around our program and supports us with everything we do,” Arnold said.

Awards

Letterwinners (years lettered) — Seniors: Evy Marlin (2), Zoey Vandevender (3), Karter Clayton (1), manager Sasha Wurster (1). Juniors: Grace Keeler (3), Sydney Hoffman (2), Nevaeh Chesnut (1). Sophomores: Alainah Galanakis (2). Freshmen: Karlie Kruse (1), Lydia Williams (1), Danikka Barber (1).

Most improved — Nevaeh Chesnut.

Most valuable teammate — Karlie Kruse.

Miss Creston Girls Wrestling — Evy Marlin.

IHGSAU team academic award (3.25 GPA or higher) — Team GPA 3.568.

IWCOA Academic All-State Honorable Mention (state qualifiers minimum 3.5 GPA) — Grace Keeler.

National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American Award (varsity letterwinners minimum 3.5 GPA) — Nevaeh Chesnut, Alainah Galankis, Zoey Vandevender, Grace Keeler, Karlie Kruse.

State qualifiers — Alainah Galankis, 120 pounds; Karlie Kruse, 125 pounds (fifth place); Evy Marlin, 135 pounds (fourth place), Grace Keeler (140 pounds).