Hounds get three girls to state

IOWA CITY – The Fort Madison Lady Hounds will send three wrestlers to the state tournament next week in Coralville.
Breana Fenton (125), Mara Smith (130), and Kat DiPrima (140) all got a spot on their respective weight class brackets for the championships which begin Thursday night at Xtream Arena.
Smith and DiPrima both qualified with championships at the Class 2A Region 4 state qualifier at Iowa City High Friday night. Fenton finished in 2nd place after falling in the title match.
Smith, ranked 6th in the latest IAWrestle state rankings, knocked off Bettendorf’s Isabella Giza, who owned a previous win over Smith this year. The Bloodhound scored a takedown in the 1st period after the two battled for control throughout the period. Smith had an upper advantage but couldn’t get control until just before the horn at the end of the first.
Giza chose the bottom start to the second period and would score an escape with 30 seconds left in the second period for a 3-1 Smith lead. The Hound would have the bottom spot to start to the third and work an escape about 20 seconds in.
With Giza looking for a shot to get Smith to the ground, the junior Bloodhound was able to take advantage of the situation for a takedown with :46 seconds left and then was able ride out the win.
“What a match. That was the main match people wanted to see up here,” said head coach Kyle Doherty, who was named the Class 2A Southeast District Coach of the Year last week.
“Watching her, that was the best she’s wrestled all year. To avenge that loss and be a district champ is huge for her. That’s awesome."
Smith, who will be making her third trip to the state tournament, said getting the win over Giza was just as gratifying as winning the regional title.
“I was waiting for that. Me and my dad had been looking at this and knew this could happen. I had to give it everything and it feels good to get through regionals and get that win back,” Smith said.
“It was definitely a mix of emotions of ‘wholly crap I gotta go’."
Her first two wins came by fall in a combined 37 seconds.
She said her past experience at state helps her understand what’s coming next week.
“The first year, I was just out right away and didn’t learn much, but the second time taught me more about - okay this is how this goes. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
DiPrima and Fenton are both making their first trip to the state meet.

DiPrima, who is ranked 10th in the state at 140 lbs., was uncharacteristically a little miffed after winning the title when she pinned Pleasant Valley senior Kyna Moffit in the third period leading 4-0. All DiPrima’s points came in a 4-point nearfall where Moffit was saved by the horn.
“I think I could have wrestled a lot better. I should have dominated her a lot more,” DiPrima said. “I was really mad that I was only up 4-0 at the end of the second. I went to the second period twice tonight and that’s only my third or fourth time doing that. I want to be offensive, and I want to score,” she said.
Doherty said the sophomore had lost twice to Moffit last year and was looking for a little revenge.
“Kat at 140 lost to that girl twice and getting that win over those losses is awesome for her. She’s worked extremely hard over the summer to put herself in this position. She’s obsessed with wrestling, and it’s good to see her punch that ticket,” he said.
DiPrima did go into the second period in her first round win but scored a fall at 3:39 and then took Iowa City High’s Nina Peterson into the third period scoring a fall with :45 left.
Fenton lost in her title match to 6th-ranked Josie Logan, a Marion sophomore at 125 lbs. Fenton gave good effort fighting off Logan in the first period and trailed just 3-1 going into the second period. Logan would get another 3-pointer 30 seconds in and put the match away with an escape and takedown in the third period. Fenton fought away any nearfalls in the match.
The Hound sophomore didn’t get to wrestle at regionals last year because of a wrestle-off but was happy with the opportunity.
“This year, compared to last year, is completely different. I’m really excited and I’m excited to share this experience with my teammates,” Fenton said. “This means a lot.”
Doherty said Fenton has worked hard in the weight room over the past year.
“B didn’t get a chance to wrestle in regionals last year because she lost in a wrestle-off to Iris (Arevalo). So this being her first district has to mean a lot to her because she’s a fantastic kid to have in the room. She’s definitely earned that,” he said.
He was disheartened for Arevalo, who got caught in a quirky roll reversal by Pleasant Valley freshman Ruby Stagg, and suffered a pin in the 1st period. Arevalo was up 8-0 before the reversal with a quick takedown and two nearfalls. In her first match in consolation, Arevalo had a 6-0 lead in the first period, but Davenport’s Addison Cozzens scored a reversal out of the nearfall. Arevalo would roll out of that near the edge of the mat for her own reversal and led 8-2, but got caught in the final five seconds in a reversal and a quick call nearfall at the horn for a slim 8-7 advantage. Cozzens deferred in the second period and Arevalo took the top position. Cozzens would score a reversal for a 9-8 lead at 1:14 in the second and then get the pin, eliminating the Bloodhound sophomore.
“She is a lot better wrestler than that result, and it’s unfortunate she doesn’t get a chance to keep competing. That one’s a tough one. She deserves that chance to continue competing.”
The Hounds started the day 7-1 with Fenton and Tatum Peters each getting first-round byes.  The Lady Hounds, who finished with 77 points in 7th place, were in second after the first round. They started the smallest team with just eight girls.
Lucille Zimmerman (100), McKayla Schinstock (115), Tatum Peters (155), and Maddy Emmett (170) all lost in second -ound wrestling and in their next respective rounds of wrestling in the consolation bracket. Zimmerman got a bye in first round consolation and Emmett suffered an injury default in her final match.
Smith and DiPrima will likely garner a top 8 seed in the state tournament with their 1st-place finishes. Fenton will likely be in the bottom half of the bracket. Eight different criteria are used to determine seedings for the tournament. Wrestling starts for Class 2A at 10 a.m. Thursday with first round, quarterfinals, and 1st and 2nd round consolation brackets through all weight classes. Wrestling also begins at 10 a.m. Friday for semifinals, 3rd round consolations, consolation semis, and 7th place matches. The final matches, 3rd place, and fifth-place matches begin at 6 p.m.