ST. CLAIR – Herculaneum junior Eddyson Reeves and Pacific junior Zoe Fisher had a lot in common Saturday.
Both pinned all three of their opponents, both became the first girls wrestlers in school history to win a district championship and both credited the same attribute for helping them achieve their success – confidence.
“I still have doubts, but this year I have more confidence in myself. I feel more prepared,” said Reeves (130) who upped her season record to 36-1.
Fisher became the first state qualifier for Pacific last season but lost her first two matches at Mizzou Arena. On Saturday, she blitzed her way through the 120-pound bracket, culminating with a pin 53 seconds into her championship match with Ste. Genevieve sophomore Hollyn Zangero.
“I really just wanted to do better than I did last year, so I worked really hard,” Fisher said. “Sometimes, I get in my own head, but if I can stay confident, I’ll be just fine.”
Reeves and Fisher were among 56 wrestlers who punched their tickets to the Missouri state meet at the Class 1 District 1 tournament Saturday at St. Clair. The host Bulldogs captured the team championship with 149 points, outpacing Ste. Genevieve (103) and Sullivan (100).
St. Clair, which will send seven wrestlers to the state meet, won the first girls district title for coach Mel Hughes, who will retire this season after 40 years as coach.
“It’s a really exciting day for us,” Hughes said. “It’s a young group overall and they are hard workers. We’ve entered them in big-school tournaments, and they’ve been competitive in all of them. It’s been a really successful season.”
The top four finishers in each of the 14 weight classes advanced to the Class 1 girls state meet, which is scheduled to take place in concert with the Class 1 and 2 boys tournaments Feb. 22-23 at Mizzou Arena.
Due to its overwhelming popularity, Missouri girls wrestling was divided into two classes this season, allowing for twice as many district champions and state qualifiers, and allowing for many history-making performances.
Westminster junior Kate Van Zee (105), Borgia senior Aine Callahan (125), Lift for Life freshman Jayla Goins-West (155), Parkway Central junior Lily Morales (170), St. Pius X senior Sophie Meyer (190) and STEAM Academy junior Latahvia Williams (235) all became the first girls wrestlers in their program’s history to qualify for a state meet.
Herculaneum’s Reeves also joined that history-making list.
“It’s kind of a cool thing to have,” Reeves said.
Reeves lost in the bubble match at districts last season and made a pact to not let that happen again. She trained extensively and gained a boost of confidence with her only setback of the season, a 6-1 loss to Illinois state runner-up Taylor Dawson of Collinsville.
“I faced her in an out-of-state tournament and she pinned me in the second period after almost tech-falling me in the first. This time, my main goal was to hang with her better and I feel like I did that,” said Reeves, who also is a hurdler and pole vaulter on the Herculaneum track and field team.
Fisher’s reign as the lone Pacific district champion lasted only five weight classes, as freshman Dani Gullet won the 145-pound title with a 3-0 decision over Brentwood senior Annsleigh Alexander.
Festus also crowned two champions, sophomore Mya Hairston at 100 pounds and Lauren Mills at 125. Mills raised her record to 35-0 and shared the sentiments of Reeves and Fisher in crediting confidence as an important aspect of her success.
“I feel like wrestling is a lot about believing in yourself and not doubting yourself in any circumstance, even if you’re down,” Mills said. “Being confident is something I work on.”
Other winners included: Potosi junior Allison Missey (110); Union senior Brianna Keiser (115); Park Hills Central sophomore Addisyn Gasaway (135); Sullivan sophomore Dorie Richardson (140); De Soto junior Ella Bradley (155); Owensville sophomore Bailee Dare (170); North County senior Brooke Bennett (190); and Sikeston junior Jasmynne Green (105) and senior Alayna Ray (235).
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