The Ballard women's wrestling team kicked off its 2025–26 season by hosting the annual Ballard Women's Wrestling Tournament, gaining valuable early-season experience against a strong field.  Though the Bombers finished the day in eighth place, the meet featured several standout performances and plenty of momentum-building moments for a young roster.

Quarterfinal: Colfax-Mingo 36, Ballard 30
Ballard opened the tournament with a tight matchup against Colfax-Mingo.  The Bombers recorded four pinfall victories, highlighted by Kacey Smith (115), who earned a fall in 4:21, and Emarie Pearson (120), who battled late to secure a fall in 4:58.  Charlee Neer (130) added a forfeit win before Esther Wilson (135) delivered a lightning-fast pin in just 24 seconds.  At 170 pounds, Sadie Ruby continued her strong presence on the mat with an 11-second pin to keep Ballard within striking distance. Despite the surge, Colfax-Mingo's depth sealed the dual.

Consolation Semifinal: Ames 66, Ballard 18
A tough Ames squad handed Ballard its second loss of the day. Evelyn Faubus (125) earned a fall at 3:27, while Ruby continued her dominant outing with a 1:10 fall at 170.  Valentina Gutierres (190) added a forfeit win.

7th-Place Match: Iowa Falls-Alden 36, Ballard 24
Ballard closed the day against Iowa Falls-Alden, showing improved execution and competitiveness.  Pearson (120) opened with a forfeit win, followed by a grinding late pin from Evelyn Faubus (130) at 5:55.  Wilson (135) delivered another impressive fall in 1:19, and Ruby capped her undefeated day with a 1:39 pin at 170.  Despite the strong efforts, Iowa Falls-Alden secured the final points to take the dual.

The Bombers finish the tournament 0–3 but leave with a clearer picture of their lineup's potential. Several athletes posted multiple wins, including Ruby, who went undefeated with three falls.

Up Next
Ballard returns to action on Saturday, November 22, when they travel to Nevada for a 10:00 AM tournament.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography