A whole new ‘comeback kid’ for Osage
By Kristi Nixon
CORALVILLE — Osage girls’ wrestling keeps bringing a wrestler to the state tournament who you can never count out.
For the second year in a row, the Green Devils boast a wrestler to make an incredible comeback during her state wrestling journey.
This year, it is sophomore Annaliese Arciniega, who, after trailing in her regional semifinal a week ago to came back to pin her opponent, in essence clinching her state berth, used the same move to win a potential state elimination round after trailing 7-3 against MFL MarMac’s Mackenzie Bachman.
“Honestly, when I have the leg hooked like that, I see she’s really high, I realize I can grab the leg and the head and maybe it will give me my pin,” Arciniega said. “If it’s there, and I can get back points and a pin, I might as well take it. It’s not something I specifically look for, but if it’s there, I’m going to use it, you know? Pull it out my pocket.”
Whether she is going to get a reputation for that move, Arciniega doesn’t know. But, she went on to survive to Friday’s fourth-round wrestlebacks with an 11-0 major decision over East Buchanan’s Miley Walz, who Arciniega is 2-1 against this season. According to head coach Ryan Fank, Arciniega lost the first match against Walz and has now won the last two.
“I’ve got two more years, so we’ll see what happens, I guess,” she said. “I’m really excited about that (continuing to wrestle). I’m just proud of myself for making it this far. You know, whatever happens, happens.”
She wrestles Spencer’s Shaylee Sutherland (41-7) today (Friday, Feb. 3).
Arciniega was the only Green Devil remaining on the back side after a couple of rough second- and third-round wrestleback rounds. Even still, Osage holds into the final day of wrestling fifth-place with 55 points. Decorah leads after the first two sessions with 82 points.
