Alexandra Hofrichter of the Antigo Wrestling Club Has Amazing Performance, Finishing Fourth At the 2021 US Marine Corps Girls Folkstyle National Championships
FOR THE ANTIGO TIMES
The day after becoming an All-American with an 8th place finish at the USAW Freestyle Nationals, Alexandra Hofrichter of the Antigo Wrestling Club put forth a spectacular day of matches, finishing fourth in a loaded bracket.
Starting the match for Hofrichter was a rematch from the Freestyle tournament against Brooklyn Hays of Utah. Hays finished 6th at the National Freestyle tournament and was a Utah state champion this year. Wanting her avenge her defeat from the day before; Hofrichter started the match with added aggression, successfully taking down Hays with a double leg takedown 11 seconds into the first period. Hays was then able to use her length to secure the leverage required to score a reversal 48 seconds into the round. Hofrichter countered with some strong mat wrestling, securing her own reversal with 15 seconds to go, and took a 4-2 lead into the second period.
Hofrichter chose to start the second period on the bottom, and used good hip position to roll her opponent for a reversal and a 6-2 lead. Hays would score on her own reversal, before Hofrichter once again reversed her opponent and add 2 near fall points and a 10-4 lead with 47 seconds remaining. Hofrichter was able to ride out her opponent the remainder of the period.
In the third period, Hays wanted to start on top. Hofrichter was able to get into position for a double leg finish from the bottom, and score a reversal with about 40 seconds to go. Near the end of the match, Hofrichter added a 2-point nearfall to secure the 14-4 victory and advance to the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Hofrichter faced off with Haley Ward, the national champion from the day prior. Ward was also a champion at preseason nationals, as well as a Missouri state champion, and was currently ranked 9th at 152. Ward would score first with a successful counter to a double leg attempt by Hofrichter, but would be unable to turn the strong Antigo wrestler for the remainder of the period.
In the second period, Ward chose to start on the bottom, and was able to secure a reversal 30 seconds into the period after a stand-up attempt turned into a scramble. After an escape for Hofrichter with 45 seconds remaining closed the match to 4-1, Ward was able to secure a fireman’s carry takedown.
Down 6-1, Hofrichter started in neutral, where Ward was able to score on an outside single leg. Ward was once again unable to turn Hofrichter, with the match ending with a 9-1 score. Ward would eventually find herself in the finals against Isabella Mir of Nevada, the 17th ranked wrestler at 144, who was able to comeback from an 8-0 deficit and pin Ward in the second period for a national championship.
Hofrichter returned to the mat against Dakota-Marie Dinielli, the 6th ranked wrestler in the nation at 152 pounds, as well as a Freestyle national champion runner-up the day previous. Dinielli was able to score first, with a takedown with 53 seconds remaining in the first period. Despite a lot of action on the bottom, Hofrichter was unable to score the escape point, and the period ended 2-0.
Dinielli chose to start the second period on bottom, a mistake she would pay for dearly. After a hard minute of riding, Hofrichter was able to secure a Granby from the top, and pinned the national runner up from the day before at 1:13 of the second period.
After the pinfall victory, Hofrichter had a match against Lainey Wooley of Indiana, who placed second at the regional qualifier event. Hofrichter wasted little time, converting a front headlock to a takedown, and then using a half nelson with a far side wrist to earn the pinfall victory 37 seconds into the match.
Back-to-back pinfall victories put Hofrichter in the consolation semifinals against Anna McDougal of Oregon, who finished 4th in the nation at the freestyle event the day earlier, and was an Oregon state champion. Hofrichter was able to secure a double leg takedown into a scramble, and then a power half into a mounted triangle position for 3 nearfall and a 5-0 lead going into the second period.
In the second period, McDougal chose to start on the bottom, once again a mistake against the formidable Antigo wrestler, Hofrichter was able to control the position, was able to take McDougal flat to the mat with both hooks in, and then used that to transition to mount with an overhook and secured the pinfall victory at 1:15 of the second round.
Her third straight victory in the consolations set up another match with Brooklyn Hays of Utah. Having split a pair of matches between the two days, everyone knew an exciting match was about to happen. Hofrichter was able to continue her hot streak of double legs, shooting in and securing the takedown 40 seconds into the first period. Hays was able to earn an escape to end the period at 2-1.
Hofrichter chose to start the second period on the bottom, and earned an escape in the first 20 seconds. Up 3-1, Hofrichter was able to counter a headlock attempt for a takedown 15 seconds later. Hays would then score on a reversal, and a late escape by Hofrichter ended the second period with Hofrichter leading 6-3.
Hays wanted to start on the feet for the third round, and was able to secure an underhook hip toss for the takedown and 3 nearfall points and an 8-6 lead. Hofrichter was able to tie the match with a reversal with 40 seconds remaining. With 15 seconds remaining, Hays secured a reversal and a 10-8 lead. Hofrichter then scored on an escape, but was not able to come up with the late takedown, leading to a 10-9 victory for Hays.
An amazing pair of days of wrestling for the young Antigo wrestler, and there is no doubt that the future is very bright for this upcoming star. Up next for the Antigo Wrestling Club are the WWF Freestyle and Greco state tournaments May 8th and 9th in Wisconsin Dells. Practice for the Antigo Wrestling Club is at Unified Martial Arts North, 834 5th Ave. in Antigo. Practices are held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3:15 to 5:00 and are led by head Greco and Freestyle coach Brian Edwards. If you, or your child, has wrestled in the past and want to give the Olympic styles a go, stop by and get more information during those times.
PLACES
- Isabella Mir (Centennial High School Wrestling)
- Haley Ward (MW)
- Brooklyn Hays (Utah)
- Alexandra Hofrichter (Wisconsin)
- Stella Steigler (Hornet Wrestling Club)
- Anna McDougal (Oregon)
- Elicia Leonard (Wisconsin)
- Lainey Wooley (Columbia City Wrestling Club)
Ranking Information: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/March/27/Girls-Folkstyle-Nationals-advance?fbclid=IwAR1ekxwVM69xz_wk7lSQDL2nDMbWzDrIlTpAaGJyqCisgr9hUbda_tiIVTQ