Iowa girls’ state wrestling: Iowa City West’s Jannell Avila continues family tradition

CORALVILLE — Wrestling is a family tradition for the Avilas.

Jannell Avila, a senior at Iowa City West, has made her contributions to their legacy, wrestling like her older brother, Robert, who was a three-time state champion at Lisbon and West and is now wrestling for the University of Virginia. Younger brother, Justin, was a state medalist last year as a freshman for the Trojans.

“My family is everything,” Avila said. “Being able to follow in the tradition. My uncles wrestled. I believe my grandpa wrestled. My brothers are well-known also.

“I think it’s pretty cool to be able to do the same thing as them.”

Avila was able to share a fist bump with her grandpa after she secured her second straight pin in the Iowa girls’ state wrestling tournament Thursday at Xtream Arena. Avila, a former Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association state champion and multiple-time medalist, advanced to the 155-pound quarterfinals of the inaugural event.

Both were first-period falls, improving her record to 29-2 this season.

“I try my best to get out there,” Avila said, “and get done right away.”

Members of her family drove all the way from California to watch and cheer her on the mat.

“(My grandpa), my uncle and some cousins,” Avila said in addition to her immediate family. “They all came here.”

Avila said it would be nice to capture bookend titles after a season of ups and downs in and out of the lineup. She won an IWCOA crown at Lisbon as a freshman. She is seeded second, but she is only looking at the challenges immediately ahead of her.

“It would be great,” Avila said. “I look at it one match at a time. I have to get there first.

“I’m not looking ahead. Whatever happens happens. I’m going to wrestle my heart out and give it my all.”

North Cedar student Adison Musser succeeds with Anamosa

Anamosa’s Adison Musser advanced to the quarterfinals as well. She is a junior at North Cedar but competes for the Blue Raiders through a co-op agreement. North Cedar boys’ coach Trever Greene used to work in Anamosa schools and went to college with Blue Raider coaches.

“They’ve just really helped me,” Musser said. “I’ve learned a lot and improved. Coach is very big with mindset and all that. You have to stay positive. You’ve got to focus. You don’t look at the crowds or nothing. Just focus on your match. State champ is my goal.”

The half-hour drive to and from Clarence has been well worth it. Musser competed against some of her teammates in the past but was still nervous joining a new team. She says she loves it and could see herself being a Blue Raider full-time.

“They all accepted me in as one of their own,” Musser said. “It’s been amazing.”

Musser built an 11-1 lead and pinned Dubuque Senior’s Hannah Reel in 5:25. It was her second pin of the session, needing just 1:20 to deck Clinton’s Callia Logan in the opener. Musser has learned to diversify her offense and be more versatile, but she still has a penchant for the big move, which was displayed with a neck-wrench for a fall against the taller Reel.

“I’m working my shots,” Musser said. “I know so many more moves. I knew the moves but would never do them. I was never good at them. I have improved tremendously.”

More Gazette area results

East Buchanan picked up where it left off from last week’s regional tournament. The Buccaneers were battling with Waverly-Shell Rock, trailing the Go-Hawks 46-43 for the team lead after the first session. Destiny Krum (130), Keeley Kehrli at 155, Brooklyn Graham (170) and 190-pounder Alyson Krum advanced to the quarterfinals for East Buchanan.

Vinton-Shellsburg’s trio of Bree Swenson (110), Ellie Weets (115) and 130-pounder Chloe Sanders dominated their way to the quarterfinals. They combined to go 6-0 in the first session, winning each match by pin.

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Wamac Conference foe Independence matched the Vikings with three quarterfinalists. Second-seeded Dakota Whitman (135), No. 12 Izzy Strickert at 170 and 190-pounder Rachel Eddy, a past state champion and returning medalist, each won their first two bouts. Eddy’s win set up a regional finals rematch with Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Ella Brown, who opened with two pins in just a little over two minutes total.

Cedar Rapids Prairie and Center Point-Urbana are two of seven Gazette-area teams with two quarterfinalists. The Hawks’ sixth-seeded Myah Rausch moved a win away from placing at 100, edging Colfax-Mingo’s Lily Webster, 1-0, in the second round. Prairie’s Mackenzie Childers remained unbeaten, tallying two first-period pins and moving to 46-0 this season.

Lyni Gusick (130) and Moorea Brown reached the quarterfinals for the Stormin’ Pointers. Gusick had a pin in the first round and beat Decorah’s Ashley Bjork. Gusick entered with finals aspirations as a freshman.

“It’s the thought that I’ve worked so hard and I have to accomplish the goals I want,” Gusick said. “Just keep working match by match.”

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