By Ella Guidugli, Tribal Tribune
The next stage of Fairfield postseason wrestling begins now for the boys and girls wrestling squads, as five boys and alternate will wrestle at districts on Friday, March 1, at Kettering Fairmont High School, while two girls and an alternate will be moving on to regionals on Sunday, March 3, at Harrison High School.
On Feb. 24, the boys wrestling team went to sectionals at Lebanon High School. The entire team got the opportunity to go and wrestle, but to make it out of sectionals, the team had to place in the Top 4; the Indians finished 7th overall. As individuals, seniors Braeden Shanklin (138 lbs.) and Juseters Fataki (170), sophomore Jake King (120), and freshmen Carson Rabbitt (113) and Kobe Rosenbalm (106) are moving on to districts on Friday, March 1. Jamie Mackey (126) is an alternate.
Shanklin placed 3rd during his 10th year of wrestling. Said Shanklin, “It feels good that I get a third chance to qualify for state. I’m excited to get another chance and I just have to go after it. I feel pretty good going into it. I’ve had a great week of practice so far and have really corrected my mistakes from the past couple weeks. I believe this week I am going to peak and just go after it and ultimately, hopefully, make it to state.”
Fataki placed 3rd during his first year of high school wrestling and after the “Pack the PAC” event, he said he “will win it (the state tournament) for FHS!” Being asked how he felt about districts, Fataki said, “I feel very confident. I just have to win my first match and they will all get easier from there.”
King placed 4th at districts in his 11th year wrestling. After being asked about going to districts, King said, “It feels good that I’m going to districts, but I know there is way more stuff that I am capable of. (Overall) I feel good about districts.”
Rabbit and Rosenbalm both placed 4th.
On Friday, Feb. 23, the girls wrestling team went to pre-regionals at Hamilton High School. The team had four girls wrestling: juniors Addy Taylor (120) and Bre’Aunna Carroll (125), and seniors Hailee Lewis (130), and Daniella Otisi (135). Otisi and Carroll are moving on to wrestle at regionals, while Taylor is wrestling as an alternate Sunday.
Otisi placed 4th. This is her 3rd year wrestling and her first year going to districts. Said Otisi, “I am excited to be going to districts. I didn’t make it my first two years, so I am really proud of myself. On the other hand, it is kind of nerve-wracking, knowing that now I have to wrestle to make it to state. However, I am really happy with how my season has gone and hope to make it to state.”
Carroll placed 3rd. This is her 4th year wrestling and, when asked how she felt about going to districts, she said, “It feels good and scary. I have to put in more work to place in districts. I feel like districts is going to be fun though, with my teammates. I think I can place in it and hopefully make it to state.”
