Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Sophie Degner of Algona wrestles against Missouri Valley's Maddy Buffum on Saturday in Waverly.

WAVERLY — With two more years left in her high school career, St. Edmond’s Elly Berry is excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.

Berry, only a sophomore, competed at the IWCOA Girls State Championships this weekend, earning one victory in three matches and setting the stage for the next two seasons.

“My experience was great,” Berry said. “I was very nervous throughout the tournament. The atmosphere was good, too. I met some wrestlers who were very nice and we had some great conversations.

“It’s nice to know I have two more years to compete at state, because I can work on the things that I did wrong and learn more moves for the upcoming years to achieve my goals.”

The Gael 126-pounder entered state with six victories and two tournament runner-up showings.

“What a great experience for her (Berry),” said SEHS head coach Eugene Carlson. “I’m so happy she was able to get that one win. In her first match, she was a little star-struck and didn’t wrestle to her ability, but came back and got the win.”

Berry suffered a loss in her first match, but bounced back with a fall over Ellie Fuller-Long of Durant in the third round of the consolations. Her tournament came to an end by fall versus Anamosa’s Emily Waters.

With over 375 girls in only the second IWCOA event, Carlson likes the direction the sport is headed.

“This is a great thing that IWCOA is doing,” Carlson said. “Elly, just like everybody else, got the experience, and this is definitely something she can hopefully improve from.

“Elly and Alexis Ross — what a great opportunity for the two of them here (in Fort Dodge). Congratulations to her (Ross) for getting third. She is a hard worker.”

Humboldt

With Kendal Clark winning the 170-pound championship and earning 22 victories, the Wildcats finished seventh in the team standings with 91 points. Waverly-Shell Rock was the champion with 156.5 points.

Humboldt had three quarterfinalists after the first night of wrestling. Clark took the championship, while Deni McDaniel (126) and Maria Elizond (170) also advanced.

McDaniel (6-5) lost her quarterfinal match by fall to West Liberty’s Mylei Henderson, then suffered a setback in her next match.

Elizond lost in the quarters to Bailey Walsh of Waverly-Shell Rock, and then fell on the consolation side.

Ninth-ranked senior Tia Woeste (7-8) joined 170 Clark on the medal stand, finishing eighth at 195 pounds. Woeste won two matches on the backside.

Woeste had a fall (1:56) in the consolation first round and another pin (1:02) in the second round. She lost by fall to LeMars Brooke Rood in the seventh-place match.

Humboldt sent 12 wrestlers to state and picked up 22 victories during the two-day event. Kirstyn Beaman (126) had five victories, while Mady Lange and McDaniel had three each.

Algona

Algona’s Sophie Degner (10-2) ended the event with a seventh-place finish at 152 pounds. Degner suffered a loss in the first round, but reeled off four straight victories, including three by fall. She suffered a 10-2 setback in the fifth round on the consolation side.

Degner earned a seventh-place match by medical forfeit over Muscatine’s Virginia Cacho.

Dubuque Wahlert

St. Edmond graduate Joel Allen took 22 wrestlers to the state tournament and the Golden Eagles brought home a team trophy.

Dubuque Wahlert finished third with 121 team points. The Golden Eagles finished behind the champion GoHawks. Charles City (128) was second.

Alaina Schmidt won five matches by fall to claim the 152-pound title for Wahlert.