It's never a garden vs. this Eden; Bison girls get third at Valentine

McCook freshman Eden McPherson earned another win at Valentine on Friday.

R.B. HEadley/McCook Gazette

VALENTINE, Neb. —

McCook’s six-girl lineup wrestled strong again and took third at Friday’s Valentine Invite where 10 teams scored points.

Senior Meka Daub stepped up to conquer her 145-pound division with two pins leading into her 14-8 finals beatdown of a 10-win foe from team champion Chadron.

Sophomore Kayleigh Steinbeck also crushed it again as she dominated the heavyweight decision. She pinned two on her way to 16-2 so far this season.

Junior Peyton Cock delivered a runner-up finish at 125, reaching 16 wins going into Christmas break (16-4).

Junior Alexis Steinbeck added 14 crucial points while placing fourth at 135. The Bison were four points better than host Valentine as those Badgers settled for fourth place overall.

Team scores and all McCook Bison victories during Friday’s Valentine Wrestling Invite.

Teams: 1. Chadron 130, 2. Broken Bow 94.5, 3. McCook 77, 4. O’Neill 73, 4. Valentine 73, 6. Ainsworth 59, 7. Cozad 56.5, 8. Bayard 54.5, 9. Gordon-Rushville 50, 10. Ord 45.

145 pounds: Meka Daub (14-4 record) won the championship. She pinned B. Rudnick, AINS, in :34; pinned C. Kenner, VAL, in 2:35; and won 14-8 over finalist A. Tewahade (10-3), CHAD.

235: Kayleigh Steinbeck (16-2) won the championship. She pinned Khloe Weiss, MC, in :34; pinned U. Clairmont, Todd County, in 2:14; and won 4-1 over finalist I. Baumgarner (7-3), Bow.

125: Peyton Cock (16-4) placed second. She pinned S. Roberts, COZ, in :38; won 16-6 over D. Janssen, VAL; and was pinned by finalist B. Brado, CHAD (16-1) in 2:14.

135: Alexis Steinbeck (11-8) placed fourth. She pinned M. Flynn, Anselmo-Merna, in :29; pinned W. Homer, Todd County, in :28.

235: Khloe Weiss (4-10) placed fourth.

125: Eden McPherson (7-13) placed sixth. She pinned A. Twarling, Hay Springs, in 1:45.