Fischer and Selle crowned in St. James

Owatonna’s Aliah Fischer and McKayla Selle were crowned as champions of the Belle of the Border tournament in St. James last weekend for their collectively undefeated performances.

Both wrestlers finished 3-0 on the day before being crowned with their ceremonial champions’ tierras.

Fischer had the most dominant day of any Huskies’ wrestler by earning a combined 26 points via three first-period falls.

Her first two matchups ended in just 54 and 56 seconds before Canton, South Dakota’s Lakynn Qualseth stepped onto the mat.

Fischer entered the match 7-0 on the season and faced a game opponent in 20-4 Qualseth, but the match still ended swiftly with Fischer winning by fall in 1:07.

Her total combined time on the mat between three opponents was a mere 2:57 – or less than 1.5 periods of a full match.

Selle displayed a similar level of dominance by winning her three matches with two falls and a decision.

The senior secured both of her pins in the third period before winning a 10-4 decision over Pillager’s Rylie Eustice in the championship match.

Selle’s three wins combined for 24 team points.

Also wrestling for Owatonna at the Belle of the Border tournament were junior Lucinda Ornelas and sophomore Ella Montanye.

Ornelas lost her opening-round match by a tight 2-1 decision to Altoona, Iowa’s Natalie Nichols, but rebounded well to win her first two wrestle back matches by a 5-0 decision and a fall.

The junior eventually fell again in the consolation semifinals and had her day come to an end with a final loss by fall in the seventh-place match.

Montanye went winless in St. James and had her day end after being pinned twice.

Owatonna’s girls team will wrestle next at Bemidji High School on Friday, Jan. 9 at 2:30 p.m.