By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
HARRISBURG, Ore.– Cascade’s Chelsea Howard came out aggressive in her 235-pound Harrisburg All-Girls Tournament Championship victory over Sutherlin’s Lillian Anderson.
Howard got a quick takedown and from there the Cougar junior worked her ground game, tiring out Howard enough to make the turn and get the pin in the closing seconds of the first round of Saturday’s tournament. It speaks to the progression that Howard has been on as the 4A/3A/2A/1A Regional District Meet is quickly approaching for her and her team.
“She’s strong,” Howard said of Anderson. “Last year and this year, it got me a little more athletic and get to see other girls from other teams that I normally don’t get to wrestle and that I’ll see at regionals. It gives me a way to see how they wrestle and what I need to work on.
“I want to work on keeping my pressure behind and making sure when I’m driving, I’m taking those big steps around the circle and keeping a sturdy base.”
Howard was one of four Cascade wrestlers to place in the tournament Saturday at Harrisburg High School. Riley Paden finished third at 145 pounds, Nevaeh Hapton finished fourth at 120 pounds, and Angelica Fantoni finished fifth at 170 pounds.
Paden came out aggressive and picked up a pin thirty seconds into her match for third-place at 145 pounds over North Marion’s Mackenzie Girl. And despite the victory, Paden is already looking forward to how she can improve.
“I think I could’ve done a few things differently just based on critiquing things like pinning her where my arms are not, but overall, I think I did well,” said Paden. “I think (this tournament) helps a lot, especially my first match that I lost because I can go back and see what I need to fix. I think these matches are going to help me out.”
The Cougars finished tied for seventh with Siuslaw with 73 team points.
