Wawasee’s Aaliyah James was one of three to score a pin at Mishawaka Wednesday evening. (Photo by Mike Deak)

With a couple years to cultivate the program, Wawasee is now seeing the benefits of going deep on its roster. The Lady Warriors visited Mishawaka Wednesday night, and having  five more wrestlers in place than the Cavewomen, those 30 points were the primary difference in a 59-23 Wawasee win.

With the state tournament now featuring a team component, having names across the scorebook will be the difference between the contenders like Wawasee, East Noble, Garrett and NorthWood come January 3 at the Goshen Sectional. That was on display at Mishawaka, where Wawasee’s roster depth was too much for the hosts.

Wawasee had forfeits in favor of Sylvia Dixon, Evalyn Tinkey, Alex Garcia, Kenadi Pierce, Tiana Senders and Isabelle Brown, and only gave up one weight class at 105, which Mishawaka stole back six points. On the mat, Wawasee gave up just 16 points, but had to work against the tradition-rich Mishawaka regime. Wawasee scored three pins, started by Aaliyah James with a first period smack of Taylor Garrison, followed by Evalyn Blanco getting back into the lineup and putting away Hailey Flowers three seconds before the first ended. Cyanna Leon worked into the second frame and finally submitted Aniah Williams. Kenidi Nine did everything but get the pin on MyAngel Jackson in a 16-0 tech fall.

The Lady Warriors are now in the home stretch of the regular season. Saturday’s Central Noble Invite is the final action before beginning prep for the Goshen Sectional, the first of three steps in the state tournament series.

At Mishawaka
Wawasee 59, Mishawaka 23

105 – Claire Powell (M) forfeit  0-6
110 – Onica Gradeless (M) tech fall Hadley Faroute (17-1)  0-11
115 – Aaliyah James (W) pin Taylor Garrison (1:33)  6-11
120 – Sylvia Dixon (W) forfeit  12-11
125 – Evalyn Tinkey (W) forfeit  18-11
130 – Evalyn Blanco (W) pin Hailey Flowers (1:57)  24-11
135 – Kenidi Nine (W) tech fall MyAngel Jackson (16-0)  29-11
140 – Kaylee Smith (M) pin Charlotte Kompagne (:42)  29-17
145 – Cyanna Leon (W) pin Aniah Williams (2:55)  35-17
155 – Alex Garcia (W) forfeit  41-17
170 – Kenadi Pierce (W) forfeit  47-17
190 –  Tiana Senders (W) forfeit  53-17
235 – Isabelle Brown (W) forfeit  59-17
100 – Noleah Suggs (M) pin Karlee Clevenger  59-23