By Becky Walz,
Suiting up for the South Winn girls’ wrestling team in 2023 are (front, l-r) Sophia Dvorak, Isabelle Goltz, McKenna Looby; (back) Adeline Kipp, Kaydn Meyer, Abby Wagner, Maddy Janson and Ellie Knutson. Not pictured is Grace Zweibohmer. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)
Much of the line-up returns for the South Winn girls’ wrestling team as it gets ready for the 2023 season with six letter winners and a trio of new faces.
With 13 years of coaching experience, Head Coach Ethan Adams is back at the helm of the girls’ team for his second season with Tayton Bullerman taking the role of assistant coach.
A look back
Getting set for the first season of sanctioned wrestling for girls, South Winn kicked off the 2022 season with 11 grapplers with two letter winners. It was a learning experience for many of the girls throughout the season with ups and downs, as the Warriors finished the regular season with a 4-3 dual record.
In the Regional 8 qualifier, South Winn finished fifth with 116.5 points and sent four wrestlers to the state meet. Kaydn Meyer became the first regional champion for the Warriors at 120 pounds. At 190 pounds, Izzy Kipp also claimed the crown to advance. Finishing runner-up at 110 pounds, Josie Hageman punched her ticket to state. Freshman Maddy Jansen also earned a state bid as the third-place finisher at 135 pounds.
As a team at state, the Warriors accumulated 25 points and finished with Kipp on the medal stand as the senior took seventh, finishing the season with a 35-7 record. Hageman wrapped up her season with a 35-14 record.
Following the season, Kipp and Hageman graduated, leaving big holes in the bookends of the Warrior line-up.
What lies ahead
While two leaders graduated, Coach Adams is excited for what returns with two state qualifiers and four additional returning letter winners back.
“We have some strong leaders and a very coachable core. Bringing back many girls from last season is helping us get up and running quickly,” noted Coach Adams.
Meyer (120 lbs.), one of last year’s qualifiers and a senior, finished the 2022-23 season with a 33-13 record and has a career mark of 67-35. Jansen concluded her freshman season at state with a 28-19 record at 135 pounds. Junior Abby Wagner returns to 125 pounds with a 23-21 record. Other juniors back with a letter include Ellie Knutson (155 lbs., 8-22) and Grace Zweibohmer (135 lbs., 3-19), along with sophomore Sophia Dvorak (115 lbs., 7-19).
Joining the small squad is sophomore Adeline Kipp with freshmen Isabelle Goltz and McKenna Looby.
“We, along with many teams, are just still inexperienced. It is a demanding and technical sport and we are looking to continue to grow,” said Coach Adams. “I look for some of our returners to make big steps forward as we look to raise the bar for ourselves throughout the season. That will give us the best chance to have athletes in a position to wrestle in Coralville come February.”
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