Freshman is first Otter Tail Central female wrestler to advance to state

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Ava Rousu not only became the first female to win a section championship, but also became the first female wrestler to advance to the state wrestling meet after capturing the 155 lbs. section title in Shakopee on Saturday afternoon.

Rousu, who is a freshman for Otter Tail Central and attends Henning High School, entered the section tournament as the top seed and finished with a pair of wins to capture the title.

After receiving an opening round bye, Rousu secured a take down just 48 seconds into overtime to defeat Chloe Philippy of Wadena-Deer Creek in the semi-finals by a score of 8-5. The fact the match made it to overtime was dramatic enough as Rousu was trailing 5-2 before securing a take down as time was expiring in the third period to send the match into overtime. 

In the finals, Rousu chose the top position in the second period after giving up a take down and trailing 3-0 after the first period. She secured a pair of two point near falls, while Sophia Lindgren of Princeton picked up a penalty point to end the second period tied at 4-4. In the third and final period, both wrestlers started in the top position and Rousu secured a take down at the 1:34 mark of the match and held on to secure a 7-4 decision and section title.

Rousu will enter the state tournament on Thursday, Feb. 26 at Grand Casino Arena (formerly Xcel Energy Center) with a record of 18-11 overall.

In addition to Rousu, four other Bulldog wrestlers placed at the section meet, including Ava Molter who took sixth place at 112 lbs., Jolene Fosse who took sixth place at 130 lbs., Kayetana Lopez-Moen who took sixth place at 136 lbs. and Jazmine Saari who took sixth place at 148 lbs. 

112 – 6th place- Ava Molter (19-19) 7th, OCB over Maria Januszewski (18-18) So., WDC (F 4:52), Ava Molter (19-19) 7th, OCB over Samantha Courtright (11-12) 8th, AMLL (F 1:29), Shauna Geiser (23-11) Fr., NYM over Ava Molter (19-19) 7th, OCB (F 3:16), Maria Januszewski (18-18) So., WDC over Ava Molter (19-19) 7th, OCB (Dec 10-8), Samantha Courtright (11-12) 8th, AMLL over Ava Molter (19-19) 7th, OCB (F 3:29)

124 – Kelsey Schmitt (27-10) Fr., LBW over Morgan Storlie (7-12) 7th, OCB (F 5:44), Rachel Tumberg (19-11) So., NYM over Morgan Storlie (7-12) 7th, OCB (TF 20-3 (3:36))

130 – 6th place- Jolene Fosse (12-15) Fr., OCB over Hannah Youngquist (9-15) Sr., SPEC (F 2:00), Jasmine Tukhlynovych (21-9) Jr., SHAK over Jolene Fosse (12-15) Fr., OCB (TF 16-0 (2:29)), Jolene Fosse (12-15) Fr., OCB over Brielle Flan (16-12) So., LBW (F 3:36), Jolene Fosse (12-15) Fr., OCB over Ellyanna Ruther (17-5) So., NYM (F 2:55), Peyton Walberg (25-12) Fr., AMLL over Jolene Fosse (12-15) Fr., OCB (TF 21-5 (3:01)), Macy Roberts (19-10) So., ZIMM over Jolene Fosse (12-15) Fr., OCB (F 2:22)

136 – 6th place- Kayetana Lopez-Moen (16-9) Jr., OCB over Lyv Peterson (13-15) So., SPEC (F 5:13), Kayetana Lopez-Moen (16-9) Jr., OCB over Graycen Mayer (3-6) 7th, BILA (F 2:50), Laura Kohl (29-2) Sr., PRIN over Kayetana Lopez-Moen (16-9) Jr., OCB (TF 18-3 (3:47)), Lyv Peterson (13-15) So., SPEC over Kayetana Lopez-Moen (16-9) Jr., OCB (ID 1:12), Graycen Mayer (3-6) 7th, BILA over Kayetana Lopez-Moen (16-9) Jr., OCB (MFF)

142 – Ella Rich (8-13) Fr., OCB over Kinsley Wilson (5-14) 7th, SPEC (F 1:21), Mckenna Brauch (29-9) Jr., WDC over Ella Rich (8-13) Fr., OCB (F 0:59), Mia Tiller (16-8) Jr., WACO over Ella Rich (8-13) Fr., OCB (F 3:07)

148 – 6th place- Shayla Reynolds (12-7) Jr., WCAA over Jazmine Saari (6-13) So., OCB (TF 17-1 (4:00)), Jazmine Saari (6-13) So., OCB over K’leigh Pederson (4-5) 8th, WACO (MFF), Khloe Christos (6-6) So., AMLL over Jazmine Saari (6-13) So., OCB (F 5:23), Shayelin Putnam (10-10) Jr., PRIN over Jazmine Saari (6-13) So., OCB (F 0:24)

155 – 1st place- Ava Rousu (18-11) Fr., OCB over Chloe Philippy (12-14) Jr., WDC (SV 8-5), Ava Rousu (18-11) Fr., OCB over Sophia Lindgren (19-9) So., PRIN (Dec 7-4)