Makenzie Ball Pins Her Way to Stocking Stuffer Championship

The Eatonville Cruiser girls wrestling team finished eighth out of 16 teams at the 9th annual Grizzly Stocking Stuffer tournament on Dec. 22 at Hoquiam High School, highlighted by a championship run from Makenzie Ball and several other top-four finishes.

Eatonville's Mackenzie Ball stands atop the podium after clinching the 170lb championship at the 9th Annual Stocking Stuffer tournament at Hoquiam HS. Photo: Trinity Potter

Ball won the 170-pound title to lead Eatonville, going 3-0 on the day with all three victories coming by fall. She pinned Aberdeen’s Sophia Rico in 52 seconds in the quarterfinals, beat North Mason’s Claire Miccio in the semifinals and closed out the title match with a fall over North Beach’s Brooke Scramlin in 3:05. Ball scored 24 team points in the process and earned her first career high school tournament title.

“The girl’s team did some great work at the Hoquiam Stocking Stuffer,” Eatonville coach Trinity Potter said. “Many  of the girls showing their progress and several of them placing. Olivia Cole and Emory Simpson both took 4th, and Makenzie Ball taking 1st, for her first ever 1st place win in high school.”

At 100 pounds, Olivia Cole placed fourth. After receiving byes into the semifinals, Cole was pinned by Hoquiam’s Yazmin Balagot. She later dropped the third-place match by injury default against Tenino’s Kaylee Olson. Cole finished the day with four team points.

Emory Simpson also earned a fourth-place finish at 110 pounds and contributed 11 team points. After a quarterfinal loss, Simpson rebounded in the consolation bracket with back-to-back falls over Aberdeen’s Stella Cortez and Ilwaco’s Faith Caward before falling in the third-place match to Ilwaco’s Aila Soule.

Khloee Young put together a solid run at 115 pounds, scoring six team points. She opened with a fall over Montesano’s Haiden Denegar before losses in the semifinals and consolation round ended her tournament short of a placing. Autumn Cole also competed at 115 pounds but was eliminated after two matches.

At 120 pounds, Abigail Lay had one of Eatonville’s stronger overall performances despite not placing. Lay recorded two first-round falls, including a 37-second pin of Rainier’s Aden Cross, and scored eight team points. Sophia Stratton also picked up a win at 120 pounds with a fall over Rainier’s Brooke Holum.

Hailey Morris wrestled at 110 pounds but was eliminated after two losses. Harleigh Hemphill competed at 125 pounds and did not score team points.

Potter said the results reflected steady growth across the lineup.

“All the coaches are so proud of the progress these girls are putting out and are excited for a great season,” she said.