The Boone girls’ wrestling team battled through the opening day at the Iowa Girls State Wrestling Tournament on Thursday, February 5, in Coralville with two wrestlers — Poppy Malone (105) and Cadence Heggen (190 )— clinching top‑eight finishes and guaranteeing podium spots.
Emersyn Zehner (135) also earned a consolation victory while competing at state.
Malone rallies for two pins
Poppy Malone (27‑7) shook off an opening‑round loss to secure a top‑eight finish.
Malone opened her tournament falling to Allison Houston (Nevada) by fall in 2:50.
She responded in the consolation bracket, earning back‑to‑back pins.
First, she pinned Ali Robbins (Mason City) in 2:54, and then she pinned Nia Kiley (Dallas Center‑Grimes) in just 1:15.
Malone will return to the mat this afternoon to finish out placement matches.
Zehner picks up a consolation win
Emersyn Zehner (20‑17) entered the state tournament as a regional champion but lost her opening match by technical fall to Josephine Budederi (CR Jefferson).
In the consolation bracket, Zehner responded with fall in 5:14 over Acasia Lukalaba Ndomba (Iowa City Liberty).
Her tournament ended in the next round with a fall to Mia Luck (Oskaloosa) in 4:50.
Heggen will wrestle for podium spot
Cadence Heggen (29‑11) came out strong, opening the tournament with a 9‑1 major decision over Divine Akili (Linn‑Mar).
The win put Heggen into the quarterfinals where she faced Reagan Haynes (Algona), falling by pin in 1:07.
Heggen rebounded in the consolation bracket, earning a fall over Aubrey Borcherding (Dallas Center‑Grimes) in 5:10.
Heggen will return to the mat this afternoon to finish out placement matches.
Complete results were previously posted to kwbg.com
Boone will have both Malone and Heggen competing this afternoon to determine final placement while Zehner finishes her state run with a consolation win.
Jill Lutz reporting
About the Author
