Junior women's freestyle update through 4 rounds

Two Mass wrestlers make it to the second day

By AJ Traub

Livi Polansky dominated both of her Saturday matchups

Two bouts. Two minutes and two seconds on the mat.

With a technical fall and a pin, Livi Polansky (95 pounds) reached the quarterfinals (to continue Sunday) starting at 10 a.m. eastern, looking for her first placement at Fargo nationals.

"It's amazing," she said, "Especially going into quarters. I dropped a weight class this year, because I was thinking the 100-pound girls are cutting down to 100, and it's only a five-pound step for me.

"I think I can be successful there [at 95]. Seeing how well Sam Bertini did — I've been looking up to her because she's amazing — I was like 'If she can win it, I feel like I should drop down and see how I do there."

Corynne McNulty (130 pounds) earned two tech falls, a pin, and a 6-4 decision to give the Bay Staters a second grappler who will fight another day.

Corynne McNulty is looking to make it back to the finals at Fargo

Also earning wins for Team Massachusetts were Lily Runez (4 at 115), Liz Donovan (3 at 120), Maddie Ngo (3 at 125), Sara McLaughlin (2 at 125),  Madison Beauregard (1 at 190), Jocelyn Antes (1 at 120), and Maggie Campbell (1 at 120).

"Everybody was aggressive and prepared," said coach Joe Nugent. "They fought hard and I was really proud of the way we performed. We did get a lot of wins, and hopefully we'll finish off strong tomorrow with Livi and Corynne."

Liz Donovan earned a pair of consolation round victories

McNulty is following up her finals appearance last year at 136 pounds. The Blair Academy wrestler from Malden hopes to add a Fargo national championship to her accolades, which include a folkstyle national championship and an Ironman title.

Polansky earned an All-State championship at 100 pounds after reaching the finals the year before at 107, but has not yet placed at Fargo. Dropping a weight class worked well before, and she's on fire so far at the Fargodome.

"When I drop down, I do it in a very healthy way, so I'm keeping all my strength," she said. "I'm feeling a lot stronger than a lot of these girls."

Knowing what it's like to make it to the second day and not place is giving Polansky a blueprint for what to do when she takes the mat on Sunday.

"The little details that have cost me a match, I have to think about that, but I can't stress too much.

"I just have to wrestle."