Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Josephine Budederi paves path back to IGHSAU state wrestling tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS — Josephine Budederi didn’t wrestle until her freshman year at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

She spent plenty of time around the sport, however, watching her brothers, Frank, Shukuru and Francois, compete. So, when the opportunity came to join the J-Hawks’ first girls’ wrestling team, she decided it was her turn to take the mat.

“Last year was my first year,” Budederi said. “I saw my brothers wrestling and I was like I want to try it as soon as they said we were going to have wrestling at our school.”

Good decision. Budederi has found success in her short time wrestling. She achieved another first, reaching the 135-pound finals of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Region 5 tournament Friday at Alliant Energy PowerHouse.

Budederi pinned Pleasant Valley’s Kyna Moffit in 2:54 in the semifinals for her second straight state tournament appearance.

“It’s extremely unbelievable,” Budederi said. “I want to thank God because I didn’t think I’d be able to actually be going to the finals today.”

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The match was tight with Moffitt using an escape and takedown in the second period for a lead. Budederi reversed Moffit to her back and ended it.

“Both my coaches teach us when somebody wants to do something use it against them,” Budederi said. “That’s what happened. I’m so happy I was able to reverse the girl because she was trying to put me in a headlock.”

Once she had a chance for the fall she was determined to end it. What were her thoughts when she had a chance for the pin?

“Just squeeze,” Budederi said with a laugh. “Squeeze and hold it tight until the ref stops us.”

Top-seeded Budederi has demonstrated improvement, going from a little better than a .500 record to a 21-10 mark before the championship bout against Dubuque Wahlert’s Bella Miller, who was 26-1.

Her first trip to state ended with an 0-2 experience. Budederi wants to better that performance. It’s a good bet she will based on this season.

“I just want to give it my all,” she said. “By the grace of God, it’s going to be different than last year.”

The Metro was well represented in the finals. Linn-Mar had three finalists, while Cedar Rapids Prairie had two. The Lions’ Kate Seery (110) claimed a regional title, building a 12-3 lead before pinning Midland’s Karlena Buford in 3:15. Ava Hofer (115) and 120-pounder Ally Jelinek added runner-up finishes for Linn-Mar.

Prairie’s defending state champion Mackenzie Childers dominated the 130 field. She pinned her way to a championship, decking East Buchanan’s Destiny Krum in 1:27 in the final. Childers (33-2) tallied four pins, ending her first three bouts in 38, 39 and 52 seconds.

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Union Community’s Jillian Worthen is also a returning state champion. Worthen remained unbeaten, recording four pins as well at 125. She led 6-0 when she stuck Fort Madison’s Mara Smith in 4:56 in the final.

West Liberty’s Dionni Garcia-Vasquez improved to 41-1, pinning East Buchanan Andelyn Cabalka in 3:22 in the 140 final. Garcia-Vasquez posted four pins Friday.

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Independence’s Izzy Strickert captured the 170-pound championship. She pinned her way through the bracket, ending each before the second period. Strickert pinned Prairie’s Camryn Cothrell in 1:59 for the crown.

East Buchanan won the team title with 232 points, topping Prairie by 21. West Liberty was third with 161.

The Buccaneers had a region best seven finalists, receiving titles from Miley Walz (155), Brooklyn Graham at 190 and 235-pounder Alyson Krum.

IGHSAU Region 5

At Alliant Energy PowerHouse

Top 15 Teams - 1. East Buchanan 232, 2. C.R. Prairie 211, 3. West Liberty 161, 4. Independence 152, 5. Linn-Mar 133, 6. Pleasant Valley 122, 7. Dubuque Wahlert 119, 8. Fort Madison 114, 9. Marion 110, 10. Midland 101, 11. Denver 100, 12. Clinton 384, 13. Wilton 82, 14. (tie) C.R. Jefferson and Marshalltown 80.

Other area teams - 18. Union Community 45, 21. C.R. Xavier 25, 25. C.R. Washington 12.

State qualifiers

100 pounds - 1. Violet Diaz (Den), 2. Hailey Kemper (FM), 3. Taelynn Gravel (Mid), 4. Elizabeth Burns (CRP)

105 - 1. Erica Irvine (Don Bosco), 2. Valeria Torres (EB), 3. Akemah McClendon (Clin), 4. Sarah Greiner (Ind)

110 - 1. Kate Seery (LM), 2. Karlena Buford (Mid), 3. Alissa Sanchez (WL), 4. Audra Coss (Wilt)

115 - 1. Caitlin Reiter (PV), 2. Ava Hofer (LM), 3. Silvia Garcia-Vasquez (WL), 4. Eleanor Pfab (CRX)

120 - 1. Abigail Meyer (PV), 2. Ally Jelinek (LM), 3. Alyssa Eckhardt (Mid), 4. Jordin Derr (Ind)

125 - 1. Jillian Worthen (UC), 2. Mara Smith (FM), 3. Reese Roberts (LM), 4. Josie Logan (Marion)

130 - 1. MacKenzie Childers (CRP), 2. Destiny Krum (EB), 3. Havana Griffith (Ind), 4. Brielle Parke (LM)

135 - 1. Bella Miller (DW), 2. Josephine Budederi (CRJ), 3. Kaydence Boorn (Wilt), 4. Ciara Gomez-Bryant (CRP)

140 - 1. Dionni Garcia-Vasquez (WL), 2. Andelyn Cabalka (EB), 3. Josie Nelson (Columbus/WMU), 4. Emma York (CRJ)

145 - 1. Eve Skrocki (DW), 2. Tayla Stiefel (EB), 3. Luisa Meade (CRP), 4. Cassi Paustian (PV)

155 - 1. Miley Walz (EB), 2. Madison Edens (Central DeWitt), 3. Kelsey Knief (Bellevue), 4. Lecet Quiroz (Columbus/WMU)

170 - 1. Izzy Strickert (Ind), 2. Camryn Cothrell (CRP), 3. McKenna Broadhead (Den), 4. Genevieve Lantigua (Marsh)

190 - 1. Brooklyn Graham (EB), 2. Amerie Alvarado (WL), 3. Kennedy Burk (Den), 4. Ellie Cox (Marion)

235 - 1. Alyson Krum (EB), 2. Skylar Wegener (Northeast), 3. Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez (WL), 4. Emelia Reyes (CRP)

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