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Eslinger earns medal to lead Louisburg girls wrestling at ACCHS

Photo courtesy of Heather Eslinger
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Louisburg freshman Leola Eslinger earned a third place medal Saturday at the ACCHS Girls Invitational. Eslinger is currently 9-1 on the season at 145 pounds.


EFFINGHAM — Louisburg is venturing back into the world of girls wrestling this season thanks to a pair of freshmen joining the program.

One of those freshmen, Leola Eslinger, is taking the challenge head on. After winning her first six matches on the junior varsity level, Eslinger competed in her varsity tournament last Saturday at the ACCHS Girls Invitational in Effingham.

Eslinger more than held her own as she earned a varsity medal. The Louisburg freshman finished third at 145 pounds and finished with a 3-1 record. She has also won nine of her first 10 matches to start the season.

“Her first two meets were technically considered JV level, but we had her matched up with higher-level opponents,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “She entered her first varsity tournament at Effingham on Saturday with a 6-0 record. Her lone loss was to the eventual champion from Rock Creek, but she proved that she’s going to be a competitor in girls wrestling this year.”

Eslinger (9-1) opened tournament action with a 32 second pin over Washburn Rural’s Reece Garrett. In the semifinals, she lost her lone match of the day when she was pinned by Rock Creek’s Koda Moeller. 

She responded on the backside of the bracket with a 50 second pin of Sabetha’s Emma Wahwasuck. Then in the third place match, Eslinger earned a pin of Jefferson West’s Kinley Shelman.

Freshman Allison Martin also saw her first tournament action at 130 pounds. Martin finished with an 0-2 record.

“Allison is showing steady improvements every time she steps on the mat,” Bovaird said. “She just started wrestling this year, while Leola has been wrestling for a long time and has a great deal of experience. Those two have been great practice partners and are really laying a steady foundation for the upcoming girls program.”