By Jeremy Jacob, Sports Editor
The Shelton sisters took care of business on Monday in Mexico.
Mexico Brick City Classic Photo Gallery
Out of the subzero cold, the Centralia girls competed at the third annual Mexico Brick City Classic at the Mexico Sports Complex. Jayci and Madie Shelton each took home medals for the Lady Panthers and so did Abigail Barte.
Head coach Tyler Forsee said the Class 1 No. 1 Jayci Shelton took care of business in the three-wrestler 155A bracket. Shelton finished first after pinning both of her opponents, including returning Class 2 state qualifier Haylee Fort, of Waynesville.
“Jayci was in a smaller bracket, but I thought she looked pretty good in those,” Forsee said.
Jayci’s sister and returning state qualifier Madie had the chance to shine more in her bigger 130A bracket and finished second following a 4-1 record. Shelton only lost to North Point’s Ayamba Abunaw via pinfall but pinned her other four opponents in the first period. In an earlier round, Shelton had already pinned Abunaw in the first period before being pinned late in the second period in the rematch.
“Madison was in a very tough bracket,” Forsee said. “That’s probably Madison’s best tournament all year. She looked very good in what she was doing, and she transitioned from one move to another very well.”
Forsee said Madie’s bracket difficulty on Monday was one Centralia has a good chance of seeing later in the season so she benefitted from just competing, and she won most of her matches.
Along with the Sheltons, Forsee said each girl Centralia sent to the tournament wrestled quality opponents that would only make them stronger. Barte was pinned twice by Kirksville’s Melody Hicks in the smaller 135B&C bracket and took home a second-place medal, and Alexandra Baer accounted for the other Lady Panther win with a third-period pinfall over Battle’s Kaydence McCay to take fifth in 120C.
“All of the girls got good matches in, maybe not matches they were able to win, but they got matches that made them better,” Forsee said. “They weren’t on and off the mat really quick and got three periods worth of wrestling in a match. When you do that, you find ways to get better.”