Dawson, Ford show well at Ft. Zumwalt East Invite

By Mark Jurgena

The girls wrestlers from Collinsville High School took part in the Ft. Zumwalt East Invitational in St. Peter’s, Mo. Friday evening.

Taylor Dawson and Emma Ford were able to put up strong finishes for the Kahoks.

At 130, Dawson, who was ranked 19th nationally in the preseason by USA Weightlifting, suffered her first loss of the season to a female wrestler in the finals. She was beaten by Marissa Sanabria of Wentzville, Mo. (Holt) by a 9-0 major decision. 

Sanabria, who was ranked 23rd in the same poll, is 12-0 this season and has over 100 match victories in her career.

The Kahok beat three Missouri grapplers to get to the finals.

She beat Josephine Nichols of Clayton via pinfall in 35 seconds then took down Baylie Wehmeyer of O’Fallon (Ft. Zumwalt North) in 26 seconds.

In the semifinals, she pinned Sadie Sehnert of Wright City in 25 seconds.

At 112, Emma Ford brought home a 4th place finish going 2-2 against her competition from the Show Me State.

She beat Jenna Voyles from Oakville by pinning her at 2:33 to start off her evening. She then beat Addyson Buckthorpe of St. Clair in 44 seconds.

She was beaten by eventual champion Kayla Hobday of FZN via pinfall at 2:52 and fell in the 3rd place match to Tiana Paul of Manchester (Parkway South) by pin in 41 seconds. 

Alanni Torres finished in 8th place at FZE after going 2-3 against Missouri wrestlers.

She beat Chelsy Boehner of Ferguson (STEAM Academy) by pin in 1:25. After dropping her second match she came back to beat Caroline Frank of Wentzville (North Point) via pinfall at 3:18.

Tashieya Taylor competed at 155 for the Kahoks as well.