By Marisa Dawson
Bennington High School’s girls wrestling team delivered a strong performance at the Bennington / North / Papio South / Westview Quad held on Tuesday, January 20 at Omaha Westview High School. The Badgers went 2-1 in the round-robin duals format, showcasing depth, quick pins, and resilience against competitive Metro-area opponents.
Bennington opened the evening with a 48-36 victory over Omaha North. The Badgers capitalized on multiple forfeits in the lighter weights (100, 105, 110, 125, and 155 pounds) and secured key pins from Sabhana Thapa (115 lbs, fall in 4:22 over Kamari Johnson), Jorja Baca (120 lbs, fall in 4:30 over Nyagoa Ruon), and Maren McIlnay (145 lbs, fall in 1:57 over Karmen Del Rio).
In the second dual, Bennington fell narrowly to Papillion-La Vista South by a score of 36-42. The match featured several exciting pins, including quick finishes by Mia Anderson (110 lbs, fall in 0:20 over Allison Watts), Katelynn Kinsella (135 lbs, fall in 0:24 over Malerie Baker), and Maren McIlnay (155 lbs, fall in 0:48 over Bristol Gourley). Bennington also picked up forfeits at 120, 125, and 235 pounds, plus a win from Eliza Flores. However, Papillion-La Vista South benefited from forfeits at 105, 130, 140, and 170 pounds, along with pins. A double forfeit at 190 pounds kept the score tight, but Papio South pulled out the edge in a hard-fought battle.
Bennington closed the quad strong with a dominant 48-30 win over host Omaha Westview. The Badgers again used forfeits effectively (at 100, 110, 115, 120, 155, and 235 pounds) and added pins from Alice Hofer (125 lbs, fall in 1:28 over Dereonna Figures) and Katelynn Kinsella (140 lbs, fall in 0:57 over Kolyns Masters). Omaha Westview earned points through forfeits in several mid-weights and a double forfeit at 190.
Standout performances across the night came from wrestlers who consistently delivered for Bennington: Mia Anderson at 110 pounds, Jorja Baca at 120, Alice Hofer at 125, Katelynn Kinsella (competing at 135/140), Maren McIlnay (145/155), Sabhana Thapa at 115, Addi Shippen at 100, and Eliza Flores at 235. The team’s ability to secure bonus points via pins, many in under two minutes, highlighted their technical sharpness and aggression.
This quad marks a solid mid-season showing for the Bennington girls as they build toward the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) state championships in February. With depth across weight classes and momentum from recent events, the Badgers are positioning themselves as contenders in the growing girls wrestling scene in the Omaha metro area.
