Eighteen times over Friday and Saturday in Clinton, Cassville Lady Wildcat wrestlers heard the noise they chase — a shrill, quick whistle and palm on the mat.

At the Class 1 District 3 Tournament Friday and Saturday, five Lady Wildcats pinned their way to 2023 Wrestling Championship berths, with Annie Moore, Kailey Artherton and Faith James taking first, Hailey Roark second and Taylor Glidewell third.

As a team, the Lady Wildcats took second place out of 34 squads with 137 points, 4.5 behind first-place Holden.

Nathan Fortner, Cassville wrestling coach, said his team plain took care of business.

“It’s like they were clocking in and clocking out for work,” he said. “Their goals are all set for state, so they were ready this week to get back to work.”

Cassville’s matches in the tournament were decisive, as all three champions pinned their way through their brackets, Roark was only pinned in her title bout, and Glidewell was pinned in the semifinals but fought back with two more to take third.

“Annie pinned her way through the tournament, and all in the first period,” Fortner said. “Kailey and Faith were exactly the same way. It’s unusual in a district tournament to pin your way through like that, but they did it.” Over the two days, Moore spent a total of 2:23 on the mat in three matches. Artherton spent 4:37 over four matches, and James went 5:22 in three.

“Hailey was seeded third and in the semifinal had the No. 2 girl,” Fortner said. “She was headed to a major decision when she pinned her, and that was the same girl that beat her in districts last year. She was super proud to get over that hump. The No. 1 girl in the championship was tough, but we will be on opposite sides of the bracket at state, so that could be a rematch for the state title.”

Gildewell was seeded second and took third, joining the group of four that have all wrestled at state in years past.

“She was winning in that semifinal but got caught on her back,” Fortner said. “But she bounced back and pinned her way through the rest to take third. These five girls are all veterans and have been our anchors all year. They showed up at districts.”

Seasons ended for four other Lady Wildcats in Kennedy Truman, Monique Lopez, Rebekah Fry and Saige Holman.

“Kennedy wrestled tough and made the bubble match, or the ‘blood round’ as we call it,” Fortner said. “She was right there against the Monett girl. But, to do that as a freshman is great.

“Rebekah, Saige and Monique showed improvement each round of the tournament. Rebekah made the blood round but got caught and pinned. She was also just that close. The Nevada girl had beaten us three times this year, and she did avenge those losses and kicked her out of the tournament.”

Fortner said though not all will make the trip this year, the future is bright for those staying behind.

“I’m super proud of all these girls,” he said. “I’m excited for them to come back next year because I think they will be mature enough to make it to state.”

Full results from contested matches at districts included:

110: Quarterfinals – Sydnee Baldwin (Nevada) over Kennedy Truman (Cassville) (fall, 1:48)
110: Consolation Round 2 – Kennedy Truman (Cassville) over Mia Bagley (Clinton) (fall, 2:43)
110: Consolation Round 3 – Kennedy Truman (Cassville) over Selah Parris (Harrisonville) (fall, 4:43)
110: Consolation Semis – Kayrie Burdett (Monett) over Kennedy Truman (Cassville) (fall, 1:17)
115: Quarterfinals – Annie Moore (Cassville) over Ivonne Lucho (Grandview) (fall, 0:09)
115: Semifinals – Annie Moore (Cassville) over Jenna Spencer (Monett) (fall, 0:44)
115: 1st Place Match – Annie Moore (Cassville) over Macey Greene (Holden) (fall, 1:30)
120: Round 1 – Kailey Artherton (Cassville) over Kayli Wentz-Smith (Buffalo) (fall, 1:04)
120: Quarterfinals – Kailey Artherton (Cassville) over Bryanna McCabe (Carl Junction) (fall, 0:55)
120: Semifinals – Kailey Artherton (Cassville) over Bailey Pack (Clinton) (fall, 1:10)
120: 1st Place Match – Kailey Artherton (Cassville) over Brooke Bluel (Monett) (fall, 1:28)
125: Round 1 – Tessa Kinslow (Seneca) over Monique Lopez (Cassville) (fall, 2:13)
125: Consolation Round 2 – MaReya May (Holden) over Monique Lopez (Cassville) (fall, 0:32)
130: Quarterfinals – Faith James (Cassville) over Avery Clinton (Marshfield) (fall, 1:31)
130: Semifinals – Faith James (Cassville) over Makayla Altic (Buffalo) (fall, 0:34)
130: 1st Place Match – Faith James (Cassville) over Anmarie Dillon (Eldon) (fall, 3:17)
140: Round 1 – Hailey Roark (Cassville) over Gabriella Howard (Buffalo) (fall, 0:33)
140: Quarterfinals – Hailey Roark (Cassville) over Hallie Crisp (Diamond) (fall, 3:11)
140: Semifinals – Hailey Roark (Cassville) over Charlie Gregg (Holden) (fall, 5:48)
140: 1st Place Match – Amitria McNack (Clinton) over Hailey Roark (Cassville) (fall, 0:38)
145: Round 1 – Olivia Chapman (Eldon) over Saige Holman (Cassville) (fall, 0:31)
145: Consolation Round 1 – Saige Holman (Cassville) over Megan Rice (Windsor) (fall, 0:54)
145: Consolation Round 2 – Allison Calentine (Diamond) over Saige Holman (Cassville) (fall, 0:23)
155: Quarterfinals – Abby Sader (Knob Noster) over Rebekah Fry (Cassville) (fall, 0:20)
155: Consolation Round 2 – Rebekah Fry (Cassville) over Nevaeh Conaway (Harrisonville) (fall, 2:52)
155: Consolation Round 3 – Rebekah Fry (Cassville) over Ella Heathman (Nevada) (fall, 4:36)
155: Consolation Semis – Zoey Foster (West Plains) over Rebekah Fry (Cassville) (fall, 2:02)
190: Round 1 – Taylor Glidewell (Cassville) over Emma Corbin (El Dorado Springs) (fall, 0:15)
190: Quarterfinals – Taylor Glidewell (Cassville) over Alexandra Malena (Pleasant Hill) (fall, 0:28)
190: Semifinals – Aubree Castaneda (Holden) over Taylor Glidewell (Cassville) (fall, 2:31)
190: Consolation Semis – Taylor Glidewell (Cassville) over Kayleen Gareipy (Sherwood) (fall, 2:15)
190: 3rd Place Match – Taylor Glidewell (Cassville) over Ryleigh Strunk (Harrisonville) (fall, 0:21)