Briann Canchola of McNary gets encouragement during a meet against Sprague on Thursday, Jan. 8. Canchola lost her match against MacKenna Carter in the 100-pound class. The Celts won the meet 54-30. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)
The McNary’s girls wrestling team enters the new season with a strong showing in a dual meet against Sprague and with five wrestlers who in the past have qualified for the state meet.
The Lady Celts won nine matches to defeat the Olys 54-30 on Thursday, Jan. 8.
“The girls team has wrestled an extremely tough, competitive schedule so far this season,” said Coach Sam Adams. “We have a group that is focused on having individual success as well as lofty team goals as well.”
Marlina Martinez was last year’s state champion as a sophomore, wrestling at 110 pounds, and was third in state the year before. This year, she is wrestling at 120 and is closing in on her 100th win as a Celt.
Last year, senior McKenna Unger posted her 100th career win as a McNary wrestler. She was fourth at the state meet in 2024 and finished sixth last year after enduring an injury.
Three other Celts have state tournament experience, including Izzy Hublitz, Jace Friesen and Chaya Paloma. Kailyn Bollman-Lechner returns as a three-time regional placer.
Adams said four experienced wrestlers join as freshmen this year. They are Jenna Friesen, Teagan McCarthy, Citlali Perez and Sahara Martinez.
Izzy Hublitz of McNary faces Isdabella Wilburn in the 110-pound class during a meet against Sprague on Thursday, Jan. 8. Hublitz lost but the Celts won the meet 54-30. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)McNary’s Marlina Martinez gets the win over Jovi Johnson in the 120-pound class during a meet against Sprague on Thursday, Jan. 8. The Celts won the meet 54-30. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)McNary’s Seelah Piatkoff faces Jacob Bates in the 126-pound class during a dual meet on Thursday, Jan. 8. Piatkoff won the match while the Olys won the meet 53-27. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)Evan Snowden of McNary faces Logan Boyd of Sprague in the 138-pound class during a dual meet on Thursday, Jan. 8. Snowden won the match. The Olys won the meet 53-27. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)Harley Sowers of McNary faces Koen Belknap of Sprague in the 113-pound class during a dual meet on Thursday, Jan. 8. Sowers won the match by a fall. The Olys won the meet 53-27. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)Celt wrestlers cheer on teammates during a meet against Sprague on Thursday, Jan. 8. Thhe Celts won the meet 54-30. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)McNary’s Marlina Martinez faces Jovi Johnson in the 120-pound class during a meet against Sprague on Thursday, Jan. 8. Martinez won by a fall and the Celts won the meet 54-30. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)Darius Sakil of McNary faces Tajreece Luster of Sprague in the 215-pound class during a dual meet on Thursday, Jan. 8. Sakil won the match by a fall. The Olys won the meet 53-27. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)McNary’s Donavan Hawks faces Carter McKinley in the 106-pound class during a dual meet on Thursday, Jan. 8. Hawks lost the match and the Olys won the meet 53-27. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)
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