January 31, 2022 at 9:55 a.m.
Hodags' Swanson 5th in inaugural WIAA girls' state wrestling tourney
Hodags' Swanson 5th in inaugural WIAA girls' state wrestling tourney
Junior Abigale Swanson earned the distinction of being a place winner at the inaugural WIAA girls' state wrestling tournament. Swanson bounced back from an opening round defeat to finish fifth in the 185-pound weight class.
"She did an awesome job, smile on her face all day," Hodag coach Scottie Arneson said. "That's typically hard to find with her, but she was feeling it today and loving it. I think she was excited too that she got to showcase what she was capable of.
"It was an awesome day for not only Abby but Wisconsin wrestling, in general, and women's wrestling even more."
Swanson had a tough draw to start the day, going against top-seeded Arial Haemmerle of Winneconne. Swanson, who lost twice to Haemmerle in a Wisconsin Challenge Series tournament a week earlier in Wausau, led 4-0 in the second period when Haemmerle turned the tables and pinned her. Haemmerle ended up placing third on the day.
"We coached her up, doing stuff I knew was going to help her be successful down there," Arneson said. "She was winning 4-0 and then got caught in one of that girl's bread and butter moves and ended up getting pinned in the second period. We were wrestling perfect right up until we started thinking."
The loss relegated Swanson to the consolation bracket, where she recorded first-period pins over Martin Luther's June Ulbing and Xavier's Lexa Perez to wrestle back into Saturday evening's placement round.
With a spot on the podium already secured, Swanson pinned Lomira's Ana Adelmeyer in the fifth-place match. Scoreless after one period, Swanson hit a takedown and then pinned Adelmeyer in the first 20 seconds of the second.
"She did a phenomenal job today, stuck with what was working, didn't try to force anything," Arneson said. "When you try to force stuff in wrestling, it doesn't really end well for you. Abby stayed within herself, stuck to the game plan of what was going to help us be successful and a fifth-place finish was as good as we could have done from where were lost in the bracket today."
Arneson, a former state place-winner in his high school days at Merrill, said the vibe at Saturday's event was comparable to the boys' state wrestling tournament, which takes place each February in Madison at the Kohl Center.
"It's been long overdue for getting an individual girls' state tournament," he said. "I think it's going to give girls another avenue to put their abilities to the test and it's awesome that they're getting the opportunity now."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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