The Excelsior Springs High School girls wrestling program closed 2022 by doing something the program hadn’t done before: win a tournament title.

Producing one champion, four runnersup, three third-place finishers, a fourthplace finisher and a fifth-place finisher, the Excelsior Springs girls claimed the team title at the Western Missouri Tournament, hosted Dec. 28 by Center High School. The Tigers tallied 271 points in securing the first tournament in their four-year history.

“I am very proud of the girls and that we are at a point where we are not only chasing personal goals, but team goals as well,” coach Scott Schwab said. “These ladies have the passion to continue to grow together and we as coaches are excited to be along for the ride.”

Senior Vada Burton was Excelsior Springs’ individual champion, going 5-0 in the 130-pound division. She picked up four wins by fall and a 13-10 win by decision over Raytown’s Amaya Johnson in the championship match.

Justus Sutton, a first-year high schooler, was among the second-place finishers, going 2-1 in a three-person, round-robin bracket. Sutton picked up a win by fall and another by medical forfeit.

Junior Alyssa Betts finished second at 125, going 4-1, with three wins by fall and a win by decision before dropping the championship match by fall to Blue Springs South’s Maddy Tally. Wrestling at 135, junior Bailee Baxter went 1-1 in a three-person bracket to take second.

Sophomore Lauren Park placed second at 145, going 3-1 in a five-person bracket. Park got her three victories by pin. Her loss was by fall to Fort Osage’s

Emma Norris.

Izabella Morgan was among the thirdplace finishers. The sophomore went 2-2 at 105, getting her two wins by fall.

Junior Jaylenn Hudlemeyer also placed third, going 3-2 at 120. Adrien Crawley, a first-year high schooler, took third at 170, going 2-2.

Aryana Davis, a first-year high schooler, went 2-3 at 155 to place fourth. First-year high schooler Gabby Scrivener took fifth at 140, going 2-2.