Sophomore Maddy Arnold and junior Jordan Dempsey feel like they achieved a bigger purpose than qualifying for state this year.

Although they ultimately didn’t place in Salina, both wrestlers look to build on their success this season and continue to build the wrestling team up to have more Cardinals competing at state in 2024.

“Setting the foundation for the girls team is definitely what we needed,” Arnold said. “I think that was Jordan and I’s biggest accomplishment this season, or at least one of them.” 

Both wrestlers went 1-2 in their three respective matches earlier this week at state. 

This was the second year in a row Arnold qualified for state, giving her an idea of what to expect and staying calm on the big stage. 

Arnold was pinned in her first match-up against Aubree Saporito from Columbus, forcing her to the back side of the 135-pound bracket.

“I didn’t wrestle the way I wanted to at all my first match,” Arnold said. “I feel that I got a little too relaxed and slacked off.”

She quickly regrouped for her second match Wednesday against Ivy Davis from Lakin.

“I was much more relaxed and calm my second match while also being a little on edge knowing if I lost one more time I was going home,” Arnold said.

Arnold would pin Davis and advance to Thursday action with hopes still alive to place in the top six of the bracket.

Arnold faced Nakita Lawrence of Sabetha, a wrestler who she lost to last year, Thursday morning. Lawrence won the rematch via pinfall in the second period.

“My third match was by far my best match at state,” Arnold said. “I just got in a sticky situation and she stuck me.”

Unlike Arnold, this was Dempsey’s first time qualifying for state in her high school career.

“Definitely nerve-racking going into my first match,” Dempsey said.

Dempsey faced Destiny Gonzalez from Goodland, who only lost one match on the season, in the first round of the 145-pound bracket. Gonzalez pinned Dempsey in the first period.

“That was a hard first loss,” Dempsey said. “Going into that second match, I knew that this was all or nothing. I didn’t want that to be my last match of the season.”

Dempsey faced Gloria Webb from Pratt in her second match on the backside of the bracket. 

Trailing by seven points in the third period, Dempsey’s season was on the ropes. She managed to get Webb on her back and pin her to move on to Thursday, but it came at a price.

“My elbow got hyperextended in my second match, and it was very painful to continue wrestling through that,” Dempsey said. 

Dempsey rested it the best she could overnight and into Thursday morning before warmups. She had the trainer for the team wrap it and put a brace on it to provide stability. 

“I knew that would have been a more interesting match, but with my arm not at 100%, it was difficult to do things on her,” Dempsey said.

Dempsey lost via pinfall against Michelle Phillips from Burlington. 

Head coach Miles Cleveland told both wrestlers after their final matches that he was beyond proud of them for what they accomplished.

“They are setting the foundation for the program and if we can get some more girls like them, the Lady Cardinal wrestling program will be heading down the right path,” he said.

The boys tournament starts today.  

Reach reporter Dylan Funk at [email protected].

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