The Fairfield girls wrestling team opened conference dual competition with a 60–24 loss to Burlington on Thursday, December 18th, but the final score didn’t fully reflect the Trojans’ performance on the mat.
Fairfield returned to action for the first time since the Bill Rex Invitational at Pekin on December 5th after nearly two weeks of weather-related postponements. Despite the long layoff and a limited lineup, the Trojans showed toughness and efficiency, winning four of the five contested matches.
Dual Recap
Burlington brought a full roster, capitalizing on multiple forfeit victories against a Fairfield squad that competed with just five wrestlers. Aislinn Wise and Kendra Allison were held out due to minor injuries, leaving the Trojans at a significant numerical disadvantage.
Still, Fairfield made the most of its opportunities, going 4–1 in head-to-head matches, with all four wins coming by pin.
Individual Results
- June Connor (100) earned a pin at 1:43.
- Bekah Zirkle (105) suffered a loss by fall at 0:48.
- Kensley Fligg (120) secured a pin at 3:16.
- Bailey Belzer (155) won by fall at 3:28.
- #1-ranked Sam Lyons (170) continued her dominant season, pinning her opponent in just 58 seconds.
Coach’s Perspective
Fairfield coach Dane Kool emphasized his team’s effort and resilience despite the circumstances.
“Burlington brought a full lineup, so they scored on forfeits in all but five matches,” Kool said. “But of those five matches, our girls won four of them with pins. Our girls showed up ready to wrestle, and we were very pleased with how they performed.”
Kool also addressed the absence of Wise and Allison.
“They’re dealing with some minor injuries. It’s a long season, and it can start to wear on your body,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Fairfield will look to get healthy as the season resumes in the new year. The Trojans return to action January 3rd at the Keokuk Girls Wrestling Invitational, beginning at 10 a.m., a meet that was originally scheduled for December 13th before being postponed due to weather.
