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For Bulldog wrestlers, first sanctioned girls season meets expectations

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MFL MarMac wrestlers Mackenzie Bachman (left) and Kadence Pape appreciated the outpouring of support they received throughout the season and in their state tournament run. They are pictured with the custom posters elementary students colored for them. (Photo courtesy of MFL MarMac School)

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

 

Iowa’s first sanctioned high school girls wrestling season is in the books, and it met the expectations of MFL MarMac state qualifiers Kadence Pape and Mackenzie Bachman.

 

“Going into the season, I didn’t think much would change,” Bachman admitted. “I thought we would still go with the boys to their duals. I didn’t realize how separate it would be. But we are our own program now, which was fun to see.” 

 

The MFL MarMac girls team included six high school wrestlers this year­—a number Pape and Bachman hope to see grow with the influx of girls into the youth and middle school programs.

 

“We did get a lot of young girls to go out, which was shocking to me. Even the numbers in the whole state of Iowa from last year to this year, there are 1,000 more girls. That already shows that having it sanctioned has made a big impact,” Bachman noted.

 

“We had a lot more promoting the girls team around the school this year,” Pape added. “Hopefully there are some girls who will want to give it a shot next year.”

 

Due to the size of MFL MarMac’s team, the wrestlers competed mainly in tournaments rather than duals. For the first time ever, they qualified for state at a regional tournament. 

 

Although both competed at the state level before the sport was sanctioned by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, with Pape placing twice, they said this year was different.

 

“There were tons of fans this year,” said Bachman, “and everything was pink, now that we’re part of the girls association.”

 

Added Pape, “Last year, there were a couple mats in the fieldhouse. This year, they had all the mats in the arena, which I thought was nice. They also ran the finals a little differently. They didn’t do the awards until the end. I thought that ran smoothly, to get the wrestling out of the way.”

 

The competition level was heightened, according to Pape and Bachman.

 

Pape said she wasn’t familiar with many of the names in her 120-pound bracket.

 

“The competition was very tough this year, especially with the incoming freshmen. Those girls have probably been wrestling a long time when, before, it was a lot of girls who just started coming up,” she explained.

 

Bachman also noted the difference between last year’s 64-person bracket, when anyone could wrestle at state.

 

“You could have someone who’s been wrestling for a week, and then some girls who are really good,” she said. “Now, with the 32 from the qualifying, it’s all good girls. The big school areas were really powering through, and we don’t see them a lot.”

 

The tournament still stings for Bachman, who was ahead in her final match before getting pinned.

 

“I got put in a position I’d never been in before and didn’t know how to get out of it. That was disappointing,” she said.

 

Pape also hoped to place, but was happy to collect her 100th career win in the opening match.

 

“Even though I didn’t come home with a medal, I felt good about leaving my season with my 100th win and knowing I brought the program along with me these past couple years,” she stated. “I hope to see it grow and I hope to come back and watch the state tournament and watch Mackenzie compete.”

 

Both girls appreciated the support they received throughout the season and during their state runs. They were personally congratulated and received an outpouring of support on social media. Elementary students colored custom posters for the wrestlers.

 

“I felt the school did a great job of posting about how we were going to state and how we were doing,” Pape said.

 

“I think a lot of people realized this is real and big that we qualified. It was nice to see everyone supporting, no matter who they were,” Bachman added.

 

As a sophomore, Bachman plans to continue wrestling. She’s signed up for an AAU girls dual team and AAU Girls State. She’ll also participate in quite a few camps. 

 

“I love the sport—I love doing it,” she said. “I hope to not only improve my wrestling, but also meet other girls I can make a connection with. And, now, everything I’m doing, my sister wants to do it with me. That’s nice.”

 

Pape is a senior, and after careful consideration, has opted not to wrestle in college.

 

“It was a hard decision, but I want to focus on my education,” she said. “I hope to come back and coach someday, but I’m just going to leave my wrestling career where it is.”

 

She’ll take the discipline and work ethic she learned through wrestling, as well as the teamwork, into life after high school.

 

Pape is proud of the legacy she’s leaving as MFL MarMac’s first in many categories.

 

“It’s nice to leave my name on the board and let girls work to beat those goals. I hope girls reach to over-achieve those goals. I hope Kenzie gets 150 wins and is the state champion. I want these girls to be better than me. I’m glad to leave knowing I did that for the program,” she reflected.

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