Ozark's Alyvia Myers drew confidence from the words of Lady Tigers coach Tod Sundlie heading into this past weekend's Class 2 District 3 action.
She went on to finish third at 115 pounds while qualifying for State as a No. 5 seed.
"Sundlie preached a lot to us about how we have worked hard enough to get the results we have," Myers said. "I think he's trained us to be ready. I went in with a good mindset."
Myers made it to the semifinal round by picking up a 14-4 major decision against fourth-seeded Josie Moody, of Waynesville.
After being pinned by eventual 115 champ Kelsey Watts, of Nixa, in the semifinals, Myers bounced back to pin Republic's Rebecca Griffin in the 'Heartbreak Round' and upset second-seeded Kaitlyn DeBois, of Belton, by pinning her in 3:44.
"I was told this was the best I've ever wrestled and personally, I think I wrestled my best," said Myers, who upped her record to 31-12. "My technique was 10 times better than what it was when I started. Last year for Districts, I didn't even make it to the semifinals. Looking back from then to today, it's a big eye-opener."
Myers was one of six Lady Tigers who made history as the program's first State qualifiers.
"I'm excited for everyone," Myers said. "Our three seniors (Claire Wheeler, Sarah Cazier and Tori Dunn) all made it. I'm proud of them."
Wheeler (38-9) recorded a 7-0 semifinal victory versus Springfield Central's Jasmine Wolfe at 130. She was pinned in 3:46 by Belton's Savannah Franklin in their title tilt.
Cazier (38-11) picked up a pin in 3:41 against second-seeded Maya Duncan, of Waynesville, at 155 in the 'Heartbreak Round.' She also took third as a fifth seed by pinning Willard's Gina Sellers in 3:22.
Dunn (36-10) earned her State berth by pinning Lee's Summit's Alexa Braton in 1:43 in the 110 'Heartbreak Round.'
The Lady Tigers' Maelynn Sundlie (40-7) was a runner-up at 120. She posted a pair of pins and a 7-1 semifinal victory, before being pinned in 4:24 by Nixa's Mylie Harper in an upset in the final round.
Sundlie was leading 3-0 at the time of the fall and beat Harper 16-0 at the COC Tournament.
Adilyn Hoelzle (31-8) rounds out Ozark's State qualifiers. She was fourth at 100. She won 6-3 against Lebanon's Lacey Melanson in the 'Heartbreak Round.'
