Women’s Wrestling Gains Experience at Tournaments
Ballard Competes in Ogden and Home Tournaments
The Ballard women's wrestling team stayed active over the weekend with two competitions, traveling to Ogden on Saturday and hosting the Ballard Duals Tournament on Monday. While the Bombers faced tough opponents and a few challenging matches, they continued to showcase growth and individual standout performances.
Ogden Tournament – Saturday
Ballard competed in a large field of 27 teams at the Ogden Tournament, finishing tied for 22nd with 24 team points. Sophomore Evelyn Faubus led the way with a third-place finish at 120 pounds, contributing 19 points to the team total. Faubus dominated early rounds with two pins before falling in the semifinals, then rebounded to claim third with a major decision over Taylor Thayer of Emmetsburg. Other wrestlers including Charlee Neer, Esther Wilson, Kentley Wierson, and Valentina Gutierres added points and valuable mat time, though many fell in early rounds against strong competition.
Ballard Duals Tournament – Monday
Ballard returned home for the Ballard Duals, opening with a 42–28 victory over Carlisle JV. The Bombers were led by pins from Evelyn Faubus, Harper Coppock, Kentley Wierson, Felicity Sharp, and Valentina Gutierres, with several wins also coming via forfeits. Despite the momentum from the opening dual, Ballard fell in the semifinals to Knoxville, 45–22. Faubus again stood out with a major decision at 125 pounds, while Harper Coppock, Kentley Wierson, and Valentina Gutierres added pins. In the 3rd place match, Ballard battled West Marshall but fell 42–30. Pins from Evelyn Faubus, Esther Wilson, Kentley Wierson, Felicity Sharp, and others highlighted the effort, showing the team's depth and competitive spirit.
With the two tournaments, Ballard improved its record to 3–7 and gained crucial experience for its younger wrestlers.
The Bombers will return to action at home on Thursday, January 15, hosting North Polk at 5:30 PM.
