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Brown, Pulis rally in final matches

—Submitted photo by Melissa Allison Fort Dodge’s Macy Brown records a pin for the Dodgers at the super regional tournament in Sioux City.

SIOUX CITY — For Macy Brown, failure wasn’t an option.

The Fort Dodge junior found herself in a deep hole on the mat Friday at a super regional meet, but when the opportunity arose, Brown seized it.

Down 9-0 with 30 seconds left in her third-place match with a state spot on the line, Brown attacked. She drove Treynor’s Emerson Gregg to the mat and put her on her back for an incredible comeback victory with a fall in 5:39.

“In that match, I was down and started to get discouraged a bit,” Brown said. “But in the last 30 seconds when I caught her on her back, it all hit me.

“I did not stop driving until her back was on the mat. I’m so grateful for this opportunity…it’s mind blowing.”

The 130-pounder wrestled six matches on the day, going 5-1. Brown lost to Humboldt’s Baylie Beers in the quarterfinals, but reeled off four straight victories — two by fall.

Brown (19-15), who is in her first season of wrestling, earned an unlikely state bid.

“(Qualifying for state) was seriously kind of an afterthought (before the year),” Brown said. “Never did I actually think I would qualify for state, but here we are.”

The Dodger junior — along with Alexis Ross (135), Maddie Pulis (155) and Mariaha Benedict (125) — advanced to the first IGHSAU sanctioned state wrestling meet.

“Those four that made it are so excited to be at the state tournament,” said FDSH girls head coach Jon Koenig. “They worked their butts off to get to the semifinals and are super excited.

“Now let’s just go have fun and wrestle smart.”

The Dodgers (132.5) placed fourth in the team standings behind Lewis Central (225), S.W.A.T. Valkyrie (191) and Humboldt (151).

“The highlight was Macy, down 9-0 and earning a pin to advance to state,” Koenig said. “She was behind, but trusted herself and went out and pushed hard for the fall.”

Pulis (16-6), along with Ross and Benedict all reached the finals and locked up a state spot before their match, but there was still a match to be won.

“I had a good day and most of that was because I had a good mindset and I love the Fort Dodge team,” Pulis said. “The girls are amazing and I love our coach.

“Most of my challenges are mindset and when I went into that last match I had a good one.”

Pulis, a Webster City junior wrestling for the Dodgers, also found herself in a 3-0 hole in the final period. In her match against Dana Swedensky of Lewis Central, Swedensky earned three near-fall points in the second period.

With 13 seconds left, Pulis was awarded a penalty point. She then took Swedensky to her back with five seconds remaining.

Pulis would not be denied, earning a takedown with 21 seconds left in SV-1 for the 155-pound title.

“Even though it was a close match, when I was wrestling I decided I did not come here to lose — and I wouldn’t,” Pulis said. “Qualifying means a lot to me and proves to everyone who doubted me that I can do it.

“I may not be the best, but I’m always trying to be better.”

Benedict (26-14) reached the finals with two falls. In the championship match was a familiar foe in Lewis Central’s Sophie Barnes (42-2).

Benedict was right with Barnes until the very end.

“Making it to state is a great feeling, especially when you have fought hard all season for it,” Benedict said. “We are also making history, as this is the first girls super regionals. That feeling of getting off of the mat after you know you are making it to state is incredible.

“Your team is running up to you, congratulating you. It just makes you feel like a beast.”

Koenig was proud of the way the girls competed.

“Maddie worked hard and came out with the victory to win a super regional championship,” Koenig said. “Mariah was going back and forth with Sophia Barnes and made some simple mistakes.”

Alejandra Manzanilla (105) had a strong day for the Dodgers, reaching the third place match. Manzanilla (12-9) lost her first match, but bounced back with a 9-3 decision, fall in 1:29, tech fall and a 57-second fall.

In the medal round, she lost a 6-1 decision to Emma Miller of Treynor, forcing her into a winner take all true-fourth place match. She lost to Eagle Grove’s Evelyn Jergenson by fall.

Delaney O’Connor (120) reached the consolation semifinals for the Dodgers and had a shot at a state spot. She lost her final two matches by fall and decision.

“Alejandra just missed it by one place,” Koenig said. “She was in the third-place match and had to wrestle back, and just couldn’t get it done.

“I’m happy that Delaney wrestled. That is the best she’s done all year and she was close to qualifying.”

Gracie Harvey (115), Lucy Porter (140) and Jiselle Donahe (145) also competed for the Dodgers.

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