Hanson tops podium

By: 
Leslie Silverman
Brittney Hanson (18-4) took first place in her 165-pound weight class scoring  26 team points for the Hill City Rangers girls wrestling team at the Belle Fourche Girls Invitational tournament.
Hanson had a bye in the quarterfinals and wrestled Summer Marnette (21-12)  of Rapid City Stevens in the semifinals. Hanson won by fall at 1:42.
In the first-place match Hanson faced Eddy Atkins (16-9) of Lead-Deadwood. Hanson took her down at 2:57. 
“Brittney has been killing it and hasn’t looked back since,” said head coach Tanner Davis. Davis credits the senior’s success to her hard work. “She’s made every practice and pushes herself every day,” he said.
Davis said he wishes he had more years to work with Hanson.
The girls finished eightth in the tournament.
Tiara Faehnrich (24-6) placed fourth in her 138-pound class and scored 18 team points. Faehnrich defeated Cristel Lopez from Wright, Wyo., in the championship round-one match. In the quarterfinals Faehnrich won by fall over Teagan Vining of St. Thomas More. Vining would later defeat Faehnrich and go on to  claim third place in that class.
Daisy Munoz (15-11) placed fifth in the 152-pound class and scored seven team points. 
Davis thinks Faehnrich and Munoz are capable physically but struggling mentally. 
“Once they saw their high rankings they went from wanting to win and try new things to being defensive wrestlers who are worried about losing,” Davis said.
The remainder of the Rangers points were picked up by Trystyn Jangula (14-13), Elizabeth Sutton (2-9) and Evelyn Simental (0-3).
Caleb Garcia scored the sole points for the boys team, defeating Jonathan Bainer of Newcastle, Wyo., in the consolation round.
The team wrestles at the Black Hills Conference in Hot Springs Friday and then comes home for the Black Hills Conference on Saturday. Davis is looking forward to the fun, full  weekend.

User login