Sierra Cook, who is the only girl wrestler who attends North Platte and is on the Mid-Buchanan co-op wrestling team, won three of her five matches at the Class 1 District 4 Tournament and her season came to an end at Kearney High School on Feb. 10.
KEARNEY – All four wrestlers who attend school in Platte County came up shy of keeping their seasons alive beyond the Class 1 District 4 Girls’ Wrestling Tournament, which took place at Kearney High School on Feb. 9 and 10.
West Platte finished in 25th place out of 34 teams and Mid-Buchanan – which had one North Platte wrestler – took fifth place. With the top-4 of each weight class advancing past district and earning a berth to state, the stakes were high.
West Platte sophomore 120-pounder Addison Bailey lost her first match then she battled back and beat University Academy’s Aniyah Coleman with a pin in 37 seconds. However, that ended up being her last win of the year.
“This was a special win, since Addi earned her 20th victory on the season, plus she avenged a previous loss,” West Platte head wrestling coach Brett Swope said. “Her season ended in the 3rd round wrestlebacks, finishing 20-18 on the year.”
Freshman 145-pound West Platte wrestler Emily Haynes advanced to the quarterfinals and then lost her next two matches. Coach Swope said this was Haynes’ first year of wrestling and she improved tremendously.
Hana Hoover was another wrestler, who competed in the 135-weight class, and she advanced to the quarterfinals on Friday and lost to second seeded Lauren Phillips from Oak Grove. She then battled back with a pin over Guadalupe Centers Charter’s Rosalinda Perez.
“Hana’s bracket was full of upsets, the #3 seed from Lathrop lost in the quarterfinals and would face Hana in the 4th round wrestle backs. Hana shocked the #3 seeded Lathrop girl, which was 2023 state medalist, to advance to the bubble match. Another upset in her bracket led to Hana wrestling the #1 seed from Lexington. Although she ultimately lost a very close match, Hana fought hard and finished her freshman season with a 21-17 record. The Lady Jays’ wrestlers have a bright future ahead,” Swope said.
Sierra Crook was the only North Platte wrestler this season and went 3-2 at districts, earning eight points. Her season came to an end with a 22-13 record.