EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
The Lady Redskins trailed Great Bend by five team points heading in to the final two matches of the dual before Hayleen Martinez scored a come-from-behind win, and Aileen Figueroa finished the night with a pin to secure a 43-36 Senior Night victory for the Lady Redskins.
The Redskins continued to develop younger wrestlers in a 55-24 loss.
Kiersie Carlile started the Lady Redskins with a 12-0 victory over her opponent, but Great Bend earned several victories to take a 24-10 lead.
But the Lady Redskins battled back to cut the lead to 36-31 heading in to the final two matches.
Martinez was taken down early in her match and trailed 11-5 before she was able to even up the score and eventually get a pin to give the Lady Redskins a 37-36 lead.
Figueroa finished the night with a pin to secure the dual victory for the Lady Redskins, 43-36.
The Redskins struggled, but senior Julian Orrantia was able to score a win in his final match at home in a 55-24 dual loss.
“We got down 24-10,” Liberal coach Sergio Borjas said. “We had to pick up intensity. We were able to rally back. We told the girls to gut it out. The WAC is a tough conference.”
Having Carlile open at 100 pounds has been an advantage.
“She comes away with a win, she sets the tone,” Borjas said. “If she is aggressive we keep going from there.”
And the Redskins continue to develop.
“We still have to work on some basics,” Borjas said. “It’s a young group, but they are setting a foundation for what we want to do. They are buying in. We are excited for that.”
