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New Bison team taking on 'tougher than expected' tests
McCOOK, Neb. — They’ve learned the painful way how stepping on a mat takes tough love to all new levels.
No more giggling between friendly practice moves.
Girls’ wrestling is seriously intense and even surprised McCook team leader Kendra Rogers, who’s been around since being a “kid”.
“We’re in the wrestling room, thinking it’s easy,” the 145-pound senior confessed. “Then we come out and it’s a lot harder than we thought it would be.”
No more giggling between friendly practice moves.
Tournaments mean monster head locks, takedowns and grimaced faces that shout “why would anyone want to wrestle?”
Yet Rogers has wanted to wrestle for years of watching brothers Kory, Duncan, Tate Felber and Trevor Felber represent the McCook Bison boys.
She’s been a mat girl at many McCook home duals and tourneys where wrestling “daddy” Nick Umscheid directed his Bison.
“It’s my favorite sport. I’ve been pushing for a girls team a long time,” she said.
Now after a month-plus of tough tournaments, something has changed in Rogers’ perspective of wrestling.
She loves the sport and her new McCook team even more.
“It’s definitely made me feel more confident in everything I do,” Kendra proclaimed. “It’s definitely worth it even when things haven’t been going as good as I hoped.”
Yet matches are going better and better for these Bison wrestling girls.
Rogers won the championship at 145 in McCook’s home tournament last month, even pinning Class A Grand Island High School’s Samantha Torres 24 seconds into the third period.
She pinned another opponent from Chadron while placing second in the loaded, two-day Valentine Invitational.
Rogers’ Bison teammates have also delivered some memorable victories.
Sophomore Makayla Pate owned an 8-3 record through the Valentine Invite, winning a 165-pound title in McCook’s historic first competition earlier last month.
“I’ve really admired how Makayla has been wrestling,” Rogers confirmed.
Sophomore Isabella Gonzales has been a 107-pound pack of dynamite. She joined Rogers as McCook Invitational champs.
Paige Witt won the Valentine 100-pound championship with several other Bison earning impressive wins.
“They are all so much fun,” Rogers confirmed. “They’re just a glob of energy, they keep the energy up in the (wrestling) room.”
In other words, there’s an endless drive from friends and family that make girls’ wrestling a blast.
Brother Tate Felber was offering Kendra both congrats and a “few pointers” at the McCook tournament. Tate qualified for last winter’s Class B state.
Best friend Jenicca Spencer is another reason why Rogers is loving this historic Bison effort.
They’ll compete next at Beatrice on Saturday.
Watch for results in the Gazette.