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OMAHA - Before the boys took center stage at the end of last week, the girls had the limelight at the CHI Health Center Arena for the first time with their own tournament for the Nebraska Girls Wrestling Championships held, Feb. 18 and 19.
Cedar Catholic had one participant in the meet and made the most of it as Evie Freeman, a freshman, brought home the first state medal in the short history of Lady Trojan wrestling, bringing home thirdplace at 110 pounds in Class B.
“My main goal for this year was just to get here, get to the big stage,” said Freeman. “My coaches and teammates and God have guided me, it was a very good first year of high school.”
She pinned her first two opponents, Ellison Berkeland of Columbus Lakeview and Caly Settles of Aurora in the first two rounds to earn a spot in the semifinals early Tuesday morning, her coach knew it would get tougher, but Freeman was already ahead of schedule in her career, she had already qualified for the state tournament.
“Evie wrestled really well the first day, was aggressive and got after her opponents quickly,” coach Justin Bartling said.
The coach was confident Freeman could do well in the tournament’s final day.
“The semifinals will be tough but I like our odds, if she stays aggressive she will have a shot at the title.”
Freeman lost that semifinal, 7-3, to Haylee Trew of Johnson County Central but responded with backto- back wins over Ava Cleveland of Summerland by decision, 4-0 then stuck Settles in the third-place match in the opening minute.
“This was really cool for my freshman year,” Freeman said. “My next step will be to win it all.”
Yutan won the girls’ title with 130 points, Columbus Lakeview was second with 97, Conestoga was third at 79 and Johnson County Central and Battle Creek were fourth and fifth with 75 and 70 points respectively.
The Lady Trojans, or specifically, Freeman, ended up 32nd with 20 points.
NEBRASKA STATE GIRLS WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS CLASS B Team Results: 1. Yutan 130; 2. Lakeview 97; 3. Conestoga 79; 4. Johnson County Central 75; 5. Battle Creek 70; 5. Crofton/ Bloomfield 70; 7. Palmyra 62.5; 8. Southwest 62; 9. Fort Calhoun 53; 10. Minden 52; 10. West Holt 52; 32. Cedar Catholic 20.
Cedar Catholic Individual Results: 110 - Evie Freeman 3rd (32-3) scored 20 points; Defeated Ellison Berkeland (Co LAK) by fall, 1:24; Defeated Caly Settles (AURORA) by fall, 1:49; Was defeated by Haylee Trew (JOHNSON COUNTY CENTRAL) by decision, 7-3; Defeated Ava Cleveland (SUMMERLAND) by decision, 4-0; Defeated Caly Settles (AURORA) by fall, 0:51.
