There might have been subzero temperatures outside, the Lady Bulldogs felt the warmth of being home inside.

Mexico Brick City Classic Photo Gallery

The Mexico girls hosted the third annual Mexico Brick City Classic on Martin Luther King Day on Monday at the Mexico Sports Complex. Four Lady Bulldogs each finished second and one was third in their respective weight classes to earn medals, and the three Mexico seniors were recognized in the middle of the tournament.

“We had some ups and downs, but we got some wins that we needed for districts,” head coach Tony Senor said. “Abby Bowen beat a Palmyra girl (Janie Triplett) that we lost to earlier in the year, and we pinned that girl in the first period. Karisa (Hayden) beat a Kirksville girl (Brooklyenn Rader-Johnson) that we lost to at conference. We only lost 1-0, and we ended up getting a (6-3) decision against her.”

Senor said it’s always great to see good competition to prepare for districts, but it felt better to have it in Mexico’s own gym. 

Bowen won three matches in the 135A weight class before losing to returning Holden state medalist Charlie Gregg via a third-period pinfall, earning a medal. Before that, Bowen won by a 6-1 decision and two pinfalls.

“Abby is starting to figure a lot of things out and when to do things in matches,” Senor said. “She had that girl (Gregg) on her back, and that girl is going to be a state medalist this year. The coach told me that the girl from Holden has never been on her back the entire season, and she was on her back twice. It’s encouraging.”

Alexus Johns finished second at 235A after winning her first match by a 4-2 decision and then being pinned by Camdenton’s Clara Rathmann, who was in the state finals two years ago.

Matty Tolbert was second at 235B, not long after returning from an almost two-year absence, and lost her first match via an 8-1 decision and then pinned her second opponent in the second period. Katie Bowen, who was one of three seniors along Karisa Hayden and Abbie Seibert to be honored after not being far removed from her almost two-year absence, finished 1-2 at 115A with a third-period pinfall loss, an 8-4 decision victory and a 4-3 decision loss.

Alizabeth Welch finished second at 100A after a pinfall loss and pinfall victory.

Kiya Smith finished third at 125B&C.

Jashayla Johnson is among the many Lady Bulldogs that are first-year wrestlers. Johnson by going 2-3 at 120C with two pinfall victories and one tough pinfall loss to end her day in fourth place. After leading in the match, Johnson was pinned by Holden’s Mila Turpin in the third period.

“She’s still learning and is still trying to figure things out,” Senor said. “If she keeps coming out, coming to practice and comes out next year, we can get her ready and get her going.”

Hayden was also 2-3 to finish fourth at 190A and ended her day with a pinfall victory to go with the earlier win against a district opponent.