CORALVILLE — Elly Berry’s final state wrestling tournament didn’t go the way she had planned, but the St. Edmond senior’s journey was well worth it.

Over 700 girls competed in the IWCOA tournament in the Xtream Arena on Friday.

“Wrestling is a hard sport and takes a lot to continue to do,” Berry said. “Losing matches, cutting weight, and hard practices didn’t stop me from wanting to keep going. I am very grateful for my coaches and everyone else who supported me through my journey.

“My mom always encourages me to keep going and it’s nice to know I make her proud. My wrestling career was fun, hard, stressful, but overall, I know I’ll never forget the sport.”

Berry went 1-2 in her third state trip at 130 pounds. Berry (7-3) pinned BGM-Brooklyn’s Kyla Andrew in 1:50 in her first-round match. She lost by fall to Tatum Shepherd of Ridgeview in the second round.

Berry was then eliminated from the tournament by Asia Jahangir of Dallas Center-Grimes in 3:04.

“Losing that last match was really sad for me because that’s how I’m ending my senior season at state, but I think that wrestling has taught me so much,” Berry said. “When I started in seventh grade, I didn’t know if I would stick with it, but I learned to love it.

“I wrestled only boys until my junior year so it definitely was an interesting change for me. Wrestling in general made me stronger mentally and physically.”

St. Edmond sophomore Andee Barwin (3-5) got her first taste of the state atmosphere.

“Being at state for the first time was very surreal,” Barwin said. “When first walking into the arena all I could do was look around and take every moment in. My first match came quickly and I was super nervous, I kind of let the nerves get the best of me and didn’t leave it all on the mat like I had hoped to do.

“While on deck for my second match, Mike Johnson said, ‘just go out and have fun,’ but it’d be pretty cool to have a win in this environment. From there I realized it’s up to me on that mat, and on my second match I just had fun.”

Barwin lost her first match at 105 pounds by fall to Sarah Greiner of Independence (1:06). She bounced back with a fall of her own, though, pinning Clear Creek-Amana’s Claire Vittetoe in 3:02.

“It didn’t really hit me until my mom texted me ‘so proud of you,'” Barwin said. “From her text, tears were in my eyes.”

Barwin was eliminated by Dubuque Wahlert’s Shelby Sullens,.

“I started wrestling for something new, something to both challenge me and teach me. Now all I am thinking about is the future, Barwin said. “‘How can I get better?’ ‘What next?’ The support from my teammates, friends, coaches, and family is something I didn’t expect. “While I am sad this season has come to an end and I’m going to miss Elly Berry, who taught me and gave me so much this season, I can’t wait for the next few years and hope to make her proud. I’m excited to keep learning and training in the off season and like Coach (Eugene) Carlson said, ‘become the next D-I female wrestler.'”