Pastika, Townley take first at Owatonna Girls’ Classic

Huskies wrestling hosted the Owatonna Girls’ Classic ahead of the holiday season and had two individual winners and multiple place-winners in a tournament that featured 115 registered athletes.

Winning for Owatonna were 100-pound athlete Kayla Pastika and 106-pounder Isabelle Townley.

The two were dominant early and often, combining for a perfect 5-0 record with all wins coming by way of fall.

Pastika had the longer journey to the top of the podium having to wrestle three matches, but dazzled with two second period pins and one fall in the first.

The freshman kicked off her run with a 2:54 fall against St. Charles’ Belva Douangdy before dispatching of Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson’s Payson Speltz in just 54 seconds in the semifinal round.

Pastika capped her run with a 2:52 fall over Apple Valley’s Madilyne Trottler to secure the championship.

Townley was able to collect the title at 106 pounds by winning two matches, and left no doubt who the top wrestler was by pinning Apple Valley’s Summer Suarez in 1:39 and Albert Lea Area’s Emilie Troster in 3:13.

Other Owatonna placewinners included Aliah Fischer, Mckayla Selle, Harmony Pipkin and Ella Montanye.

Fischer was able to score second place after collecting a technical fall and fall in her first two matches, but fell via technical fall in the finals to Apple Valley’s Esperanza Calvillo.

The Huskies also earned two third place finishes from Selle (136) and Pipkin (170) with Montanye placing fourth at 155 pounds.

Up next for Owatonna girls wrestling is the Belle of the Border Tournament scheduled to be held at St. James High School on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 10 a.m.

The boys’ team will also compete on the same day when it travels to Wabasso High School for a duel.

A time for the boys’ duel against Wabasso was not provided by the time of press.