photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State wrestler Tenley Ginavan wraps up her opponent during a dual against Washburn Rural at Free State High School on Wednesday, December 18.

The Lawrence High School and Free State High School girls wrestling teams competed as one on Wednesday night at Free State against Blue Valley West and Washburn Rural. The combined Lawrence team split the overall duals but had significant victories in both.

Against Blue Valley West, the Lawrence combo team won 48-36 by winning nine matches. Six of those matches came via forfeit, as the Jaguars did not have a wrestler to compete in a weight class. In contested matches, the combined Lawrence team went 3-3. In the second dual, Washburn Rural won 48-38. The Lawrence team won six varsity matches and lost eight, but none of the six wins came via a forfeit from Washburn.

“Last year, Washburn beat us 60-10,” coach Carl Springer said. “I think they beat us with 10 headlocks last year. I think they had one tonight. We lost a couple of tough matches, but that’s why we wrestle tough teams.”

Tenley Ginavan, a 115-pound Free State wrestler, won with a pin just over a minute into the match. Daijah Preston — a 135-pound Free State wrestler — and Madilyn Peirson — a 190-pound Free State wrestler — both pinned their opponents. Preston’s came in the third minute, and Peirson completed hers just after the first minute.

Springer complimented the team’s preparation for the dual. In practice, the girls are “almost like robots” in that they take coaching and can directly apply it to their next match. Springer was pleased with how movements that were practiced hard earlier in the week made an impact on the mat Wednesday night.

In the 110-pound weight class, Anabella Ackerman pinned her opponent in the fifth minute of the match. Ginavan earned her second win with a pin 1 minute and 15 seconds into the 115-pound match.

Delaney Earl was the only wrestler to win without a pin. She took a 12-2 major decision victory in the 125-pound weight class. The win was particularly sweet, as Earl’s only loss through the season so far came against the same Washburn opponent, Gabby Collins.

Preston won her second match with a pin at the start of the second period, and Elizabeth Mock won the 145-pound match with a pin in under a minute and a half.

The final win for the LHS/FSHS team came in the 190-pound weight class, as Peirson pinned her Washburn opponent around the one-minute mark.

A few younger girls who weren’t expecting it were thrown into the duals. Springer said they all fought hard, no matter how the match ended.

“They just got thrown in,” Springer said. “None of them backed down. Even if they don’t know what they’re doing, they put their shoes on and go fight. You can’t teach that.”

Following a Thursday practice, the Free State and Lawrence wrestling teams will compete in two separate tournaments at Bartle Hall and Basehor-Linwood High School.