Sikeston's Alayna Ray advances to state championship match

Sikeston's Alayna Ray (235) pins Allison Dye of Harrisonville in her first match of the 2022 MSHSAA State Tournament in Columbia, Missouri.

Ryan Mitchell photo

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Sikeston’s Alayna Ray (36-4) will wrestle for a MSHSAA Class 1 State Championship at the 235-pound weight class on Thursday, Feb. 23 at approximately 5 p.m.

Ray won by a 30-second fall over Destynee Small of Kirksville (16-15) and won by fall over Selena Snell of University Academy Charter (21-10) in the quarterfinal round. She defeated Versailles’ Sarah Huffman (35-9) in the semifinals with a pin at two minutes and 44 seconds to advance to the championship.

The Lady Bulldogs’ Jasmynne Green (22-15) will compete in the fifth-place match at 105 against Haley Brooks (43-5) of Holden.

Green won by fall over Payton Coe of Odessa (24-16) in the first round and defeated Mary Jastal of Monett (38-9) by a 2-1 decision in the quarterfinals. Green lost to Delanie Smith (45-3) of Mid-Buchanan in the semifinal round and to Kearney’s Riley Walker (41-10) in the consolation semifinals.

Sikeston’s Ellie Douglass (18-9) was eliminated at 100 after losing to Center’s Asha Pearson (30-9) in the opening round and Maddie Dauber (35-5) of Marcelin in the consolation quarterfinals. Douglass did earn a 7-4 decision over Xaveria Dawn (27-12) of Nevada in the first round of the consolation tournament.

Liliana Knoeppel was the team’s final participant at the state meet. She competed at 140 and lost to Amitria McNack (48-1) of Clinton and Avery Clark (35-10) of Trenton.