Fort Madison High School’s girls wrestling team marked a significant achievement on Saturday at the Metro North Wrestling Invitational in Urbandale. The Bloodhounds finished in second place with a total of 164 points, just shy of the championship title won by Ames, which scored 164.5 points. This competition is part of their rigorous schedule, aimed at preparing the team for the state tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville in early February.
Coach Kyle Doherty has strategically designed a challenging lineup for the Bloodhounds. “There were a lot of big schools from the Des Moines Metro area, including Dallas Center-Grimes, Pella, and Colfax-Mingo,” Doherty noted, emphasizing the quality of competition at the event. While they did not secure the team title for the third consecutive year, the Bloodhounds left with notable accomplishments and invaluable experience on the mat.
One of the standout performances of the day came from senior Mara Smith, who clinched the championship in the 140-pound weight class. Notably, this victory also marked her 100th career win. Smith dominated her matches, pinning all four opponents, including a decisive victory over Lauryn Metcalf of Ames, which she completed in just 3 minutes and 35 seconds during the finals.
In an inspiring moment for the Smith family, Mara’s sister, Lyla Smith, achieved her first career win at 145 pounds. Lyla pinned Skylynn Finnegan of Norwalk in 4 minutes and 49 seconds during her opening match. She later placed sixth in her category, showcasing her potential as a competitor.
The Bloodhounds had additional strong performances, with Kat DiPrima finishing second at 155 pounds after going 2-1. Aubree Bunnell secured third place at 130 pounds with a record of 4-1. Other notable finishes included Lucille Zimmerman and McKayla Schinstock, who both placed fourth in their respective weight classes, while Tatum Peters and Eloise Lamb finished seventh at 170 pounds. Nora Kelley rounded out the Bloodhounds’ efforts with an eighth-place finish at 120 pounds.
The Fort Madison team will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their upcoming competitions. The Bloodhounds are set to participate in the West Liberty Tournament on Monday, followed by the Midland Tournament on Tuesday. Additionally, they will host the Fort Madison Invitational at 5 p.m. on December 1 at the Hound Dome, providing another opportunity for the team to showcase their skills on home turf.
With a strong start to the season and historic milestones achieved, Fort Madison’s girls wrestling team is poised for continued success as they aim for the state tournament in February.
