Baublits Leads Cruisers with Second-Place Finish at Prairie Open

The Eatonville High School girls wrestling team opened its season Saturday at the Prairie Open and finished 21st out of 31 teams. The Cruisers sent a determined roster into a deep field and came away with one podium finish along with several early round wins.

The Eatonville HS girls wrestling team posed for a photo with their coaches during their first action of the season at the Prairie Open this past Saturday. Photo: Mel Baublits

The highlight came at 105 pounds, where junior Najalia “Nala” Baublits rolled to the title match and placed second. Baublits went 3-1 on the day and delivered two dominant victories to reach the semifinals. She opened with a 15-0 tech fall over South Kitsap’s Arielle Neghmouche, then pinned Bethel’s Victoria Aguilar in the quarterfinals. Baublits advanced again when Shelton’s Korie Cobb was forced to injury default late in the semifinal. In the final, Baublits was caught early by Tenino’s undefeated Elise Martinez and finished as the runner-up.

At 100 pounds, Olivia Cole split her four matches and showed grit throughout her bracket. Cole pinned Shelton’s Naima Harmon in just 27 seconds to start her day but fell in the quarterfinals. She responded with a consolation pin over Yelm’s Aurora Smith before being eliminated by Enumclaw’s Avery Sawyer by major decision.

Eatonville had two wrestlers at 110 pounds. Khloee Young earned a pair of falls and reached the fifth round of the consolation bracket. Young pinned Rainier’s Dakota Gardner after a first round bye, then added another fall over Yelm’s Aiyana Valera before being stopped short of placement. Emory Simpson also competed at 110 and went 0-2, picking up a bye in the consolation bracket before being eliminated by Valera.

At 115 pounds, Autumn Cole opened with a quick pin over Timberline’s Isabella Derda. She was turned away in her next two matches and finished 1-2.

Abigail Lay reached the quarterfinals at 120 pounds with a first round bye and a 50 second pin of North Beach’s Alexia Buck. Lay dropped her next two matches in quick falls. Teammate Sophia Stratton also wrestled at 120 and picked up two byes but finished 0-2 on the mat.

Harleigh Hemphill battled through two matches at 125 pounds, receiving a bye in the consolation round but falling in both of her bouts. Lorelai Allenbaugh followed a similar pattern at 130 pounds with a consolation bye and two losses on the mat.

At 135 pounds, Alaina Leifeste also went 0-2 with a bye in the consolation round. Taylor Neigel wrapped up the lower weights at 140 pounds and dropped her two matches by fall.

The Cruisers picked up another win at 155 pounds where Elliana Edwards went 1-2. Edwards rebounded from an opening round loss with a 5-1 decision over North Mason’s Eliya Prichard before falling in the next consolation round.

At 170 pounds, Makenzie Ball finished 2-2 and scored six team points. After a first round loss, Ball battled back with pins over Shelton’s Jillian Temixqueno Danker and North Beach’s Brooke Scramlin in consecutive consolation matches. Her run came to an end in the next round against Enumclaw’s Madison Cooper.