Liberty’s repeat champs lead Lightning to first MVC girls wrestling title

CEDAR RAPIDS — Despite frigid temperatures outdoors, it was anything but cold in Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s gym for the third MVC girls wrestling tournament on Saturday. New champions and upsets made the tournament one to remember.

Liberty dethroned back-to-back champs Cedar Falls, bringing home the team title with 238 team points. The Tigers finished in second with 228.5 points.

Here’s four storylines from Kennedy High School:

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Liberty’s Taylor Cavanh, Evelyn Eggleston repeat as champs

Seniors Taylor Cavanh and Evelyn Eggleston found themselves in familiar territory Saturday when the duo won back-to-back individual MVC titles and helped lead Liberty to its first MVC team title.

In the 105-pound title match, Cavanh defeated Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Marie Burns by fall in 3:19.

As for Eggleston, she defeated Kennedy’s Meredith Kaump by a 6-0 decision in the 140-pound final.

The Liberty had three additional finalists in Evalynn Karam at 110, Kaitlyn Raue at 125, and Peyten Van Dyke at 155.

Linn-Mar’s Seery three-peats

Since the start of the official MVC girls wrestling tournament three seasons ago, Linn-Mar senior Kate Seery has been at the top of the podium each year. Her conference titles weren’t without defeating a familiar foe, as Seery defeated Cedar Falls’ Lauren Whitt in two of her three MVC championships in 2024 and 2026.

On Saturday, Seery would face Cedar Falls’ Whitt in the 115-pound finals match. In the championship, Seery fought from behind, down 3-1, late in the third period, before she got a late takedown to win, 4-3.

Seery avenged a loss to Whitt earlier this season during the Battle of Waterloo back on Dec. 18. Whitt won by fall during that meeting.

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Meade, Reyes lead Prairie

Prairie’s Luisa Meade and Emelia Reyes were two Hawks that flew to the top of the podium, bringing home conference titles.

In her finals match at 145 pounds, Meade defeated Cedar Falls’ Lana Schafer with an 8-5 decision.

Reyes put Dubuque Wahlert’s O’livia Seay to her back in 2:48 during the final bout at 235 pounds.

Other finalists for the Hawks included Elizabeth Burns at 100, Marie Burns at 105, and Addison Bowman at 170. As a team, Prairie finished in fourth with 200 team points.

City High’s Eliza Mitchell upsets her way to title

Iowa City High’s Eliza Mitchell had a tough road en route to her conference title, but she wasn’t fazed.

Mitchell upset top-seed Caroline Pohlman of Linn-Mar by coming from behind, tying the match at 5-5, and getting the fall with just four seconds left in the second period.

In her finals match, Mitchell took out Liberty’s Raue with an 8-7 decision, thanks to a late takedown.

To celebrate her conference win, Mitchell ran up in the stands to hug her family, including her grandfather, Dan Gable.

Teammate Shaona Emmanuel also took home a conference championship at 155 pounds, winning by a first-period fall over Liberty’s Van Dyke.

Next up for girls wrestling is Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union regionals Jan. 30. Action begins at 4 p.m. at various school sites throughout the state. Tickets for IGHSAU Regionals go on sale Jan. 26 at 10 a.m. on Bound.