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Redhawk wrestlers finish well at BGM

Redhawk wrestler Briar Blake (left) sizes up her competition in the opening moments of her second round match in Brooklyn on Saturday, Nov. 19. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
Redhawk wrestler Addy Hochstetler (right) pictured in the opening moments of her match with Mid-Prairie's Grace Conway on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Brooklyn. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
Redhawk wrestler Jade Rausch (top) takes down her opponent, Des Moines East wrestler Avah Blakeman during her second round match on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Brooklyn much to the excitement of head coach Andrew Knaack, far right. Following an opening round bye, Rausch pinned Blakeman for her first win of the day. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER
Redhawk wrestler Jade Rausch (left) speaks with head coach Andrew Knaack following her win by fall over Des Moines East's Avah Blakeman last Saturday in Brooklyn. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The Redhawk girls’ wrestling team continues to shine in these early days of the fledgling sanctioned sport much to the delight of their hometown fans with the success continuing for the small, but mighty squad in Brooklyn.

During the Saturday, Nov. 19 tournament held at BGM High School, North Tama finished tenth out of 19 teams — an incredible feat for just three scoring individuals.

Both senior Jade Rausch (125 pounds) & freshman Addy Hochstetler (140 pounds) placed second, while sophomore Briar Blake (170 pounds) notched a fifth place finish out of 11 competitors with four pins.

“The girls have been a joy to coach,” head coach Andrew Knaack said following the tournament. “They have improved so much from the first meet at South Tama to the meet at BGM. … If they buy in and keep working hard [with a] willingness to learn, there is no reason they can’t qualify for and make the state tournament. That is the ultimate goal.”

On several occasions since practice began earlier in November, Coach Knaack has expressed his enthusiasm for his new crop of female wrestlers and his comments were no different following the Brooklyn tournament.

“[Blake] is exciting to watch,” Knaack said of his rookie sophomore wrestler. “You want to see someone get pinned fast, she is going to do it. She is strong and wants to learn.”

“[Rausch] has really taken this opportunity and ran with it,” Knaack continued. “She is athletic and wants to win.”

“[Hochstetler] has wrestled before so she knows what she needs to do,” Knaack said of his freshman wrestler. “Adding that confidence to her is important to help her grow.”

The Redhawk boys’ wrestling team was set to face Aplington-Parkersburg on the road this week Thursday, Dec. 1, beginning at 6 p.m. for their season opener, while the girls’ team will head back to BGM on Friday, Dec. 2.

Refer to next week’s edition of the North Tama Telegraph for coverage.