Lady Tigers Claim Two Titles at Excelsior Springs Girls Tournament

Excelsior Springs, Mo. (December 12, 2025) – The high school gymnasium was packed Friday night for the annual Excelsior Springs Girls Tournament, with 17 schools competing on the mat. The Lady Tigers had 15 wrestlers in action, coming away with two champions and two second-place finishes.

Senior Lillah Shue went 3-0 on the night to claim the 120-pound championship. She opened with a second-period win by fall after building a 6-0 lead over Grace Humes of Mid-Buchanan. She built a 9-0 lead over Keeley Robinson of Marshall before putting her shoulders to the mat and gaining her second win by fall of the night in the third period. She wrestled her way to a 12-1 lead over Abigail Smith of Richmond before Smith was able to come back with an eight-point third period and had Shue on her back, but could not secure a pin as Shue was able to bridge her way to the final whistle and come away with a 12-9 win to claim the weight class championship.

Junior Pyper Layton earned her way to the 135-pound championship with a 3-0 record. She opened with a win by fall over Brynlli Barton of Cameron in the first period. She went to the second period against Marie Deoutar of KC East before picking up a win by fall 16 seconds into the period. After going down 7-0 to Abby Scott of Lathrop, she rallied with a win by fall to claim the championship.

Sophomore Haylee Ray finished second in the 140-pound weight class after going 2-1. She picked up a first-period win by fall over Sydney Van Aken of Park Hill South in the first round. She followed with a 7-0 decision over Anna Clark of Lathrop before falling by a 10-5 decision to Tayja Hernandez of Mid-Buchanan in her final match.

Sophomore Saydee Kurtz opened her night with a 21-second win by fall over Chikako Kotani of Park Hill South. She followed with a win by medical forfeit over Emma Shaetz of Kearney before losing a heartbreaker in her final match. Kurtz held a 6-4 lead over Ivee Cooper of California with 36 seconds remaining in the second period before being pinned.

Four Lady Tigers finished in third place, including sophomore Bristol Sharp at 105 pounds, senior Nevaeh Happy at 115 pounds, sophomore Lilly Goetz at 120 pounds, and Emily Hilliard at 145 pounds.