Saturday’s IHSA Rock Falls Regional was business as usual for Rochelle Lady Hub senior Dempsey Atkinson, whose undefeated season continued with a pair of victories as well as the first regional championship title of her high school wrestling career at RTHS.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, below, or purchase a new subscription.
Please log in to continue |
ROCK FALLS — Saturday’s IHSA Rock Falls Regional was business as usual for Rochelle Lady Hub senior Dempsey Atkinson, whose undefeated season continued with a pair of victories as well as the first regional championship title of her high school wrestling career at RTHS.
Looking to build on her win at the Interstate 8 Conference tournament, Atkinson sought out her first regional title after finishing second in the IHSA Minooka Regional during her junior season. Wrestling as the No. 1 seed at 145 pounds, Atkinson earned a first-round bye and made quick work of her semifinal opponent, turning an early takedown into three consecutive four-point near falls to score a 15-0 technical fall against Yorkville’s Aviana Froelich during the first period.
“The bracket came out a few days before the regional, so I could see who I was going up against,” Atkinson said. “I really wanted to win this time since I got second last year and I was looking forward to redeeming myself. It was a really good experience overall. I’ve progressed a lot from where I was at during this time last year. My technique has gotten a lot better and my stamina has improved. Overall, I feel like I’m a better athlete and wrestler than I was last year.”
The win moved Atkinson into the final round, where the senior squared off against 20-match winner Jacqueline Diaz from Plano. While Diaz (20-4) was one of Atkinson’s toughest opponents on paper this season, the senior remained as dominant as she’s been all season, taking a 3-0 lead on a first-period takedown. Diaz opted for the neutral position to start the second period, but Atkinson capitalized with another takedown and four-point near fall.
“I was a little nervous going into the tournament, but I was really pleased to get another first-place finish,” Atkinson said. “I was getting to my shots and when my opponents were pressuring me, I was able to score off of that by snapping them down and going behind. I kept the pressure on my opponents and I thought I did really well at running things on top.”
Atkinson (18-0) clinched her regional crown with a pin at the 3:27 mark of the championship bout. It’s the fifth tournament win of the season for Atkinson, who won titles at the E-Rab Girls Invitational, the Ottawa Holiday Hootenanny and the Mary Kelly Invitational. With her regional win, Atkinson will advance to compete in the IHSA Geneseo Sectional from Feb. 14-15. Atkinson is seeking her second straight trip to the IHSA State Championship in Bloomington.
“I really like that the sectional is in Geneseo again,” said Atkinson, who medaled in fourth at sectionals last season. “I know the kind of competition that will be there, so I need to bring my A-game and keep my mind in the right place. It would mean a lot to be a state qualifier again and I know I can qualify if I keep this momentum going and keep working hard in the room.”
Junior Cammyla Macias (22-8) wrestled at 135 pounds during Saturday’s regional tournament, finishing 2-2 over four bouts. A second-place conference medalist in the Interstate 8 this season, Macias pinned Genoa-Kingston’s Marilu Mercado and Jefferson’s Tashayla Fitzpatrick.
