by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
Thief River Falls wrestlers Molly Ferguson and Natalia Zoller punched their tickets to the 2026 state wrestling tournament with second place finishes in their respective weight classes at the Section 8 girls wrestling tournament Saturday in Saturday in Sartell.
The two-day tournament held Friday and Saturday was the first-ever stand-alone Section 8 girls wrestling tournament. Last year, Section 8 and Section 7 were combined into one super section with the top two wrestlers at each weight qualifying for state, with the four super sections producing eight wrestlers per individual bracket. This year, with more girls competing, the Minnesota State High School League has moved to eight separate section tournaments. The top two wrestlers per weight class advance to state to produce brackets of 16 wrestlers.
Ferguson advances to state after finishing sixth in the Section 7/8 tournament a year ago. Ferguson won matches over Emily Manecke of Bemidji by fall and Holly Bergin of Brainerd by fall, before falling by 9-0 major decision to Jaime Bayliss of Monticello.
“Molly has been coming on strong at the end of the year and she seems to be moving really well at a lighter weight class, going from 130 for most of the year down to 124 at the end of the year into sections and state,” said Head Coach Dale Rystad. “She has been putting in a lot of work during practice to be more dynamic on her feet and it has paid off.”
Zoller also reached the championship round with wins by fall over Raegan Coonfield of Brainerd and Addy Sjogren of Sauk Centre/Melrose. She fell to Buffalo’s Courtney Kotish in the championship round by 10-2 major decision and the loss set up a true second match. Zoller took control early in the true second match, pinning Phoenix Novothy of St. Cloud Tech in 53 seconds.
“Natalia is always a steady force and we know what we are getting with her,” Rystad said. “When she is aggressive, there aren’t many people that will beat Natalia as she doesn’t make many mistakes, but in turn makes her opponents pay for their mistakes. Natalia also earned her 75th career pin at the section tournament as a 10th grader which is an amazing feat.”
Janaya Albers also made a deep run in section, battling her way to a third place match and possible true second if things unfolded the right way. Albers lost the third place match by 7-5 decision to Grace Hamm of Frazee.
“Janaya also had a great tournament with arguably one of the toughest weight classes at the section tournament,” Rystad said. “Janaya placed fourth but also earned her 50th career win as a ninth grader.”
Fate can be cruel some times and last week it was cruel to Thief River Falls senior Maddie Poissant. Poissant, who would have been seeded second in the section at 112 pounds, suffered a knee injury at practice on Monday, four days before the start of the tournament.
“I’m heartbroken for Maddie, who suffered a knee injury which required surgery three days before the section tournament,” Rystad said. “Maddie is a two-year captain and one of the original girls who joined wrestling three years ago. She has put in a lot of work in practice and during the offseason to get to a point where it was very likely that she would have qualified for the state tournament. Maddie was able to come down to Sartell after her surgery to watch and cheer on her teammates, which was nice, and she was awarded a coaches scholarship from Section 8. Her contributions to wrestling were highlighted at the tournament, which was nice.”
Also reaching the medal stand for the Prowlers were Lillian Lane, fifth at 100 pounds; Nora Martell, sixth at 136; and Gabrielle Zoller, fifth at 142. Also competing for the Prowlers were Bella Seyller at 106, Ellie Seyller at 118, Daphne Lundberg-Cameron at 155, and Kennedy Bakke at 170.
“The girls have continued to progress little by little throughout the year which has culminated in some very successful team events and finally leading up to the section tournament,” Rystad said. “Every girl made it to day two of wrestling, which is a great accomplishment.”
TRF results
Lillian Lane (0-0) 100 – 5th (0 pts): Bout 4 (Mat 1) – Champ. Rd of 16: Girls Varsity – 100 – Jasmine Barlow (14-12) Sr., ROSE over Lillian Lane (22-15) 8th, TRF (F 2:33); Bout 86 (Mat 1) – Cons. Quarters: Girls Varsity – 100 – Lillian Lane (22-15) 8th, TRF over Avery Oyster (14-11) 8th, UNCW (F 0:45); Bout 113 (Mat 3) – Cons. Sub-Semis: Girls Varsity – 100 – Lillian Lane (22-15) 8th, TRF over Holly Snobl (18-3) Sr., BEMI (Dec 5-1); Bout 160 (Mat 2) – Cons. Semis: Girls Varsity – 100 – Brynn Streff (27-7) Fr., WILL over Lillian Lane (22-15) 8th, TRF (F 3:37); Bout 185 (Mat 1) – 5th Place Match: Girls Varsity – 100 – Lillian Lane (22-15) 8th, TRF over Jasmine Barlow (14-12) Sr., ROSE (F 2:48).
Bella Seyller (0-0) 106 – DNP (0 pts): Bout 38 (Mat 3) – Quarters: Girls Varsity – 106 – Phoebe Morris (29-8) 7th, MONT over Bella Seyller (19-18) 8th, TRF (TF 15-0 (2:21)); Bout 87 (Mat 2) – Cons. Quarters: Girls Varsity – 106 – Bella Seyller (19-18) 8th, TRF over Brielle Coffin (6-11) 8th, SSS (F 2:34); Bout 116 (Mat 3) – Cons. Sub-Semis: Girls Varsity – 106 – Avery Johnson (20-14) 8th, SCM over Bella Seyller (19-18) 8th, TRF (TF 18-1 (5:40)).
Ellie Seyller (0-0) 118 – DNP (0 pts): Bout 45 (Mat 1) – Quarters: Girls Varsity – 118 – Dezerai Puffe (6-2) Sr., BEMI over Ellie Seyller (17-15) 7th, TRF (MD 12-4); Bout 93 (Mat 1) – Cons. Quarters: Girls Varsity – 118 – Ellie Seyller (17-15) 7th, TRF over Lydia Walker (0-1) Sr., MONT (F 1:59); Bout 125 (Mat 3) – Cons. Sub-Semis: Girls Varsity – 118 – Maria Perez (22-8) Sr., WILL over Ellie Seyller (17-15) 7th, TRF (TF 22-7 (6:00)).
Molly Ferguson (0-0) 124 – 2nd (0 pts): Bout 51 (Mat 1) – Quarters: Girls Varsity – 124 – Molly Ferguson (28-11) Fr., TRF over Emily Manecke (3-23) 8th, BEMI (F 1:57); Bout 127 (Mat 2) – Semis: Girls Varsity – 124 – Molly Ferguson (28-11) Fr., TRF over Holly Bergin (25-7) Sr., BRAI (F 4:39); Bout 199 (Mat 1) – 1st Place Match: Girls Varsity – 124 – Jaime Bayliss (30-10) Jr., MONT over Molly Ferguson (28-11) Fr., TRF (MD 9-0); Bout 228 – 2nd Place Match: Girls Varsity – 124 – Molly Ferguson (28-11) Fr., TRF over Holly Bergin (25-7) Sr., BRAI (RULE).
Janaya Albers (0-0) 130 – 4th (0 pts): Bout 21 (Mat 1) – Champ. Rd of 16: Girls Varsity – 130 – Janaya Albers (25-12) Fr., TRF over Kamil Williams (18-14) 8th, ROSE (F 2:34); Bout 55 (Mat 1) – Quarters: Girls Varsity – 130 – Afton Vogt (35-5) So., SCM over Janaya Albers (25-12) Fr., TRF (MD 18-7); Bout 99 (Mat 1) – Cons. Quarters: Girls Varsity – 130 – Janaya Albers (25-12) Fr., TRF over Keanna Merkens (17-16) Sr., UCBB (F 1:39); Bout 132 (Mat 3) – Cons. Sub-Semis: Girls Varsity – 130 – Janaya Albers (25-12) Fr., TRF over Lilly Faber (18-5) Fr., ALAR (Dec 19-13); Bout 169 (Mat 1) – Cons. Semis: Girls Varsity – 130 – Janaya Albers (25-12) Fr., TRF over Norah Nesges (27-5) So., WILL (F 4:34); Bout 201 (Mat 2) – 3rd Place Match: Girls Varsity – 130 – Grace Hamm (26-3) Fr., FRAZ over Janaya Albers (25-12) Fr., TRF (Dec 7-5).
Nora Martell (0-0) 136 – 6th (0 pts): Bout 26 (Mat 2) – Champ. Rd of 16: Girls Varsity – 136 – Nora Martell (15-24) Sr., TRF over Brooke Fritel (10-22) So., MOOR (F 3:59); Bout 59 (Mat 2) – Quarters: Girls Varsity – 136 – Emily Pulk (29-5) 7th, BGM over Nora Martell (15-24) Sr., TRF (F 0:43); Bout 103 (Mat 3) – Cons. Quarters: Girls Varsity – 136 – Nora Martell (15-24) Sr., TRF over Daylor Sangren (8-15) 8th, PLPR (ID 3:44); Bout 136 (Mat 2) – Cons. Sub-Semis: Girls Varsity – 136 – Nora Martell (15-24) Sr., TRF over Aubrey Walz (8-20) 7th, UCBB (F 5:49); Bout 171 (Mat 2) – Cons. Semis: Girls Varsity – 136 – Kienna Ard (17-8) 7th, FRAZ over Nora Martell (15-24) Sr., TRF (F 0:27); Bout 203 (Mat 1) – 5th Place Match: Girls Varsity – 136 – Daphne Frericks (25-12) 7th, SCM over Nora Martell (15-24) Sr., TRF (F 0:49).
Gabrielle Zoller (0-0) 142 – 5th (0 pts): Bout 63 (Mat 1) – Quarters: Girls Varsity – 142 – Arianna Halbert (32-11) Sr., BRAI over Gabrielle Zoller (17-10) Fr., TRF (MD 14-2); Bout 140 (Mat 2) – Cons. Sub-Semis: Girls Varsity – 142 – Gabrielle Zoller (17-10) Fr., TRF over Jadyn Eichberg (21-23) Sr., BEMI (F 3:45); Bout 173 (Mat 2) – Cons. Semis: Girls Varsity – 142 – Monika Frericks (20-13) Jr., SCM over Gabrielle Zoller (17-10) Fr., TRF (F 1:19); Bout 206 (Mat 2) – 5th Place Match: Girls Varsity – 142 – Gabrielle Zoller (17-10) Fr., TRF over Amelia Regenold (3-6) Jr., PLPR (TF 17-1 (4:38)).
Natalia Zoller (0-0) 148 – 2nd (0 pts): Bout 66 (Mat 3) – Quarters: Girls Varsity – 148 – Natalia Zoller (31-4) So., TRF over Raegan Coonfield (17-11) Fr., BRAI (F 1:46); Bout 142 (Mat 1) – Semis: Girls Varsity – 148 – Natalia Zoller (31-4) So., TRF over Addy Sjogren (22-7) So., SCM (F 4:32); Bout 211 (Mat 1) – 1st Place Match: Girls Varsity – 148 – Courtney Kotish (23-5) Jr., BUFF over Natalia Zoller (31-4) So., TRF (MD 10-2); Bout 232 (Mat 2) – 2nd Place Match: Girls Varsity – 148 – Natalia Zoller (31-4) So., TRF over Phoenix Novothy (10-4) Sr., SCT (F 0:53).
Daphne Lundberg-Cameron (0-0) 155 – DNP (0 pts): Bout 30 (Mat 2) – Champ. Rd of 16: Girls Varsity – 155 – Daphne Lundberg-Cameron (10-25) So., TRF over Itzabella Ciriaco-Mares (4-23) Fr., WILL (Dec 11-4); Bout 73 (Mat 3) – Quarters: Girls Varsity – 155 – Favour Kulu (19-9) Fr., SSS over Daphne Lundberg-Cameron (10-25) So., TRF (F 0:41); Bout 108 (Mat 2) – Cons. Quarters: Girls Varsity – 155 – Daphne Lundberg-Cameron (10-25) So., TRF over Rylan McCaslin (3-5) 8th, DELA (F 3:10); Bout 148 (Mat 1) – Cons. Sub-Semis: Girls Varsity – 155 – Chloe Patrick (18-12) Sr., BRAI over Daphne Lundberg-Cameron (10-25) So., TRF (F 1:00).
Kennedy Bakke (0-0) 170 – DNP (0 pts): Bout 74 (Mat 1) – Quarters: Girls Varsity – 170 – La`Meyah Williams (11-7) So., ROSE over Kennedy Bakke (19-20) So., TRF (Dec 6-2); Bout 152 (Mat 3) – Cons. Sub-Semis: Girls Varsity – 170 – Liliana Raya (22-18) Sr., SCM over Kennedy Bakke (19-20) So., TRF (F 3:51).