VERSAILLES — Makayla Wallenmeyer became the first girls wrestling state qualifier for the Jefferson City Lady Jays, finishing in third place at 112 pounds Saturday in the Sectional 2 Tournament.
Wallenmeyer opened the tournament with a win by fall in 3:49 against Francis Howell Central’s Katelyn Guth, then dropped a 4-2 decision in the semifinals to Holt’s Reese Compton.
In the consolation bracket, Wallenmeyer bounced back with a 10-4 win against Southern Boone’s Josey Uhrig, overcoming a 4-2 deficit after two periods.
Needing a win in the third-place match to advance to the state tournament, Wallenmeyer won by fall in 3:28 in a rematch against Guth to go 3-1 at sectionals and improve her season record to 26-7.
Wallenmeyer will join the other top-three sectional finishers in each weight class at the state championships, which will be held Tuesday, March 9, at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence.
Four other Lady Jays competed in Saturday’s sectional tournament.
Zoey Mzeru finished with a 1-2 record at 117, recording a first-period pin in her win.
Vanessa Guevara (122), Stalena Whitehead (132) and Savena Hees (143) each went 0-2 at sectionals.
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The Tipton Lady Cardinals went to the sectional tournament with four wrestlers, and three qualified for the state championships.
Kyla Cornine won a sectional title at 235 for the Lady Cardinals. She won both of her matches by fall, including a pin in 1:53 in the championship match against Camdenton’s Clara Rathmann.
Christina Loganbill and Lily Burns also advanced to the state tournament with third-place finishes, each finishing with 3-1 records at sectionals.
Loganbill clinched her state berth at 107 by pinning Fort Zumwalt South’s Sarah Morrison in :45 in the third-place match. Burns advanced her season winning by fall in :56 against St. Charles’ Olivia Schiffer to place third.
This will be the second straight appearance at state for Cornine and Burns. Cornine placed fourth at 235 last season to receive all-state honors.
Jadelyn Woolery, a state qualifier in 2019, came up one win shy of qualifying for state for the Lady Cardinals. She went 2-2 at 127, losing by fall in the third-place match at sectionals.
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The Eldon Lady Mustangs qualified a pair of wrestlers for the state championships.
Olivia Chapman advanced to her second straight state tournament by finishing in second place at 151. She won her first two matches by fall, pinning Holt’s Zoe Beattie in 1:36 in the semifinals to clinch a state berth.
Chapman, sixth in the state at 135 last season, lost by fall to Francis Howell’s Audrey McDonnell in the title match.
Anmarie Dillon became the second state qualifier in Lady Mustang history by taking third place in sectionals at 137. Dillon went 3-1, winning by fall in 1:43 against Timberland’s Arian Finn in the third-place match to advance to state.
Mackenzie Blankenship went 1-2 at 174, winning her one match by fall, while Adysson Gerber was 0-2 at 112 for Eldon.
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The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons had their season come to an end at the sectional tournament.
Rylee Robinett went 1-2 at 159, coming up one win shy of qualifying for state. Robinett won a 4-3 decision to advance to the third-place match, but she lost by fall to Holt’s Monica Thies to end her sectional tournament.
Alayna Roling went 1-2 with one pin at 122 for the Lady Falcons, while Halie Eaton was 0-2 at 151.
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The Fatima Lady Comets had two wrestlers compete in Saturday’s sectional tournament.
Morgan Eggleston went 1-2 with one win by fall at 127, while Skyla Schroeder posted a 1-2 record with a win by major decision at 137.
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Four area teams each had one wrestler competing.
Capital City’s Emily White finished with an 0-2 record at 159.
South Callaway’s Dalayna Hargis went 1-2 at 102 with one win by fall.
Versailles’ Sarah Huffman came up one win shy of qualifying for state, posting a 2-2 record at 235 with two wins by fall. Huffman lost by fall to Francis Howell Central’s Kennedy Eggering in the third-place match.
School of the Osage’s Kamill Burch was 1-2 at 112 with a win by decision in the first round.