Friedlein’s win highlights MFL MarMac success at Oelwein Girls Invite

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

The MFL MarMac girls wrestling team gained valuable match experience last week, as state qualification approaches.

That included a 3-2 night at Postville on Jan. 10. Two of those wins were courtesy of 120-pound senior Kadence Pape, who collected falls over Postville’s Raven Hoppe and North Crawford/Seneca’s Darcia Jelinek. Audrey Ruff also secured a fall against Kimberly Perez of Postville at 155 pounds.

In her 125-pound match, freshman Melody Grimm was pinned by Hoppe of Postville. Danica Friedlein lost a tough 7-5 tiebreaker to Postville’s Perez in a 145-pound bout.

On Jan. 14, the Bulldogs participated in the Oelwein Girls Invitational, placing 11th of 24 teams with 93 points. Osage edged East Buchanan 252-250 to win the tournament.

All five MFL MarMac varsity wrestlers made it on the podium, highlighted by a first-place effort from Friedlein in the 145B bracket. The freshman won all five of her matches—four by fall and one by 5-3 sudden victory.

Pape took second at 120 pounds, her only loss coming via 7-3 decision to Anamosa’s Ava Scranton in the championship match. The loss was just the second of the season for Pape.

Ruff, a sophomore, came in third in the 155B bracket, after a 2-2 day. Grimm went 0-5, including two medical forfeits, dropping her to sixth in the 125C weight class.

Mackenzie Bachman placed seventh at 135 pounds. The sophomore started the day with two tough losses, a 7-0 decision and 9-7 sudden victory, before securing a fall in round four of the tournament. Although she lost the following match by fall, Bachman rebounded in the seventh-place bout by pinning South Winn’s Maddy Jansen in under a minute.

Now, the Bulldogs will head to a tournament at Decorah on Jan. 21.