Fort Madison High School’s girls wrestling team marked a significant achievement over the weekend at the Metro North Wrestling Invitational held in Urbandale. The Bloodhounds secured second place with a score of 164 points, just behind Ames, which won the team title with 164.5 points. This event is part of their preparation for the state tournament at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, scheduled for early February.
Fort Madison’s coach, Kyle Doherty, designed a challenging schedule for the team to enhance their competitive edge. “There were a lot of Des Moines Metro area big schools there,” he noted, highlighting the strong competition from teams such as Dallas Center-Grimes, Pella, and Colfax-Mingo.
A standout performer for Fort Madison was senior Mara Smith, who achieved her 100th career win during the tournament. Competing in the 140-pound weight class, Smith dominated her matches, pinning all four of her opponents, including a decisive victory over Lauryn Metcalf of Ames in just 3 minutes and 35 seconds during the finals.
In addition to Smith’s milestone, her sister, Lyla Smith, celebrated her first career win by pinning Skylynn Finnegan of Norwalk in 4 minutes and 49 seconds at 145 pounds. Lyla later finished in sixth place in her weight class, adding to the Bloodhounds’ strong showing at the event.
The team also saw impressive performances from several other wrestlers. Kat DiPrima took second place at 155 pounds with a record of 2-1, while Aubree Bunnell secured third place at 130 pounds with a 4-1 record. Additionally, Lucille Zimmerman and McKayla Schinstock finished fourth in their respective weight classes at 100 and 135 pounds. Tatum Peters and Eloise Lamb both placed seventh at 170 pounds, and Nora Kelley rounded out the team’s results with an eighth-place finish at 120 pounds.
After the Metro North Wrestling Invitational, Fort Madison will continue to build on their momentum with participation in the West Liberty Tournament on December 1 and the Midland Tournament shortly thereafter. The Bloodhounds are set to host the Fort Madison Invitational at the Hound Dome, also on December 1, beginning at 17:00 local time, further solidifying their commitment to a successful season.
