The Norwalk girls wrestling program took another step forward this past season under the direction of fourth-year head coach Alanah Vetterick. Led by a large and talented freshmen class, the Warriors finished with a winning dual record of 10-7 overall and 3-2 in the Little Hawkeye Conference. They also had two state qualifiers for the first time in freshmen Hannah Schmitz and Merci Scholten.
Schmitz became the Norwalk girls’ first state medalist as well, placing seventh at 100 pounds in the Class 2A State Tournament at Coralville. She won three matches at state and finished 44-7 on the season with 21 pins. Following a second-round loss, Schmitz told KNIA Sports that she focused on every consolation match like it was the most important of her life, and said it was very satisfying to persevere and accomplish her goal of being a state place-winner.
Merci Scholten qualified for state at 110 pounds, clinching her state berth with four consecutive pins in the consolation bracket of the district meet. She went 0-2 at state and finished 16-18 overall.
Sophomore 115-pounder Cennedy Allen also had a good season for Norwalk, going 32-16 with a team-high 23 wins by fall. Also topping 20 wins were senior Maddie Carroll at 135, Mya Wojtowicz at 120, junior Maggie Evans at 115 and freshman Layla Page at 105. Senior Katie Liedtke, who was a state qualifier last year, missed most of the season due to injury but returned in mid-January and finished 7-5.
The future is bright for Norwalk girls wrestling as most of the team is set to return next season.
