Four Lady Indians qualify for state wrestling tournament

(Edit: Updates with additional information and coach's quotes)

Four Lady Indian wrestlers will be heading to the Class 3A state tournament after placing in the top five at the regional tournament in Cache on Monday.

As a team, the Lady Indians placed seventh out of 37 teams.

The tournament had been changed to a one-day tournament following the threat of inclement weather on Tuesday.

Brook West became a three-time regional champion, pinning her opponent in the third period in the final. She will be defending her state championship in Oklahoma City next week at 190 pounds.
Joining West in Oklahoma City will be Celina Quezada (135), who placed fourth. Quezada had missed the past few weeks with an injury but she still managed to qualify for her second straight state tournament.  Mya Padilla (235) also finished fourth to qualify. Kylie Willer (130) won her last bout of the day to get the No. 5 spot and a state tournament bid.

Emily Clark (120) will be an alternate and will compete if one of the top five is unable to compete at the state tournament.

"Brook did her thing and she dominated the competition pinning everyone," said Casey Rowell, head coach. "Celina took an early loss and bounced back and eventually beating that girl in the consolation semis. Mya wrestled the best tournament of her career by beating some talented girls, including a returning state qualfiier to make it to the consolation finals.

"Kylie lost on the frontside to a state placer and bounced back to the consolation semis where she lost to a girl in a match she was winning," Rowell said. "She gathered up her emotions and pinned her girl for the fifth and sixth to qualify."
Clark's match was not without controversy, as she received a disqualification.
"Emily wrestled an excellent tournament until losing a vey controverial match for fifth," Rowelll said. "Emily started the match by giving up an unecssary roughness penalty point in an unintentional headbutt during the initial tie  up. The coaches then decided that she couldn't continue. The rules state if a wrestler cannot continue after an unnecessary roughness call then she is declared the winner. it was disappointing and heartbreaking. It was one of the worst decisions that I have ever witnessed in my 30-lplus years of wrestling as a wrestler and coach."
Rowell also pointed out notable performances by Olivia Harris and Brailey Presgrove.
"They both wrestled a great tournament but ran into some really tough competition," Rowell said.