Four advance to state — Newcastle finishes 15th at regionals

Editor's note: This story has been updated to adjust official results as they became available. 

DOUGLAS — The Newcastle Lady Dogies are sending four wrestlers to the 4A state tournament after two days of competition at the WHSAA 4A East Regional Tournament in Douglas.

Newcastle finished 15th out of 26 teams as a group, with four wrestlers placing in the top eight to qualify for next week’s state championships in Casper.

Coach Halle Pillen said the intensity of the regional tournament brings out a different level of urgency in competitors.

“The girls really put their hearts in every match today,” Pillen said. “Regionals is where the athletes become ruthless and on the lookout for every weakness in order to win. Our girls stood steady and moved with a purpose.”

Pillen admitted there were tense moments throughout the weekend.

“There were a couple times where I was hoping someone knew CPR because my heart was about to stop,” she said. “But the girls were able to recover and go on. Match after match Coach Casey and I stood in the corner of the mat like glorified cheerleaders, whooping and hollering knowing these girls were there to give their best performance.”

Brylee Caster led Newcastle with a third-place finish at 140 pounds. After dropping her opening-round match, Caster battled through the consolation bracket with four straight wins — including two by fall — before earning a 6-3 decision in the third-place match.

Courtney Matthews advanced deep into the consolation rounds at 125 pounds. After falling in the quarterfinals, she responded with back-to-back wins — one by fall and one by major decision — before finishing sixth after a medical forfeit in the consolation semifinals.

Netanya Prell placed eighth at 135 pounds, picking up two wins by fall during her run through the bracket.

Laila Lopez finished eighth at 235 pounds to secure her state berth.

Sage Lichtenberger (100) earned two consolation wins by fall and scored seven team points. Tealah Stevenson (120) added six team points with a win by fall, and Natalie Dean (170) recorded a first-round pin for four team points. Abby Tacy (120) and Savannah Lorenz (130) also competed for the Lady Dogies.

With regionals complete, Newcastle’s four qualifiers will now prepare for the WHSAA 4A State Girls Wrestling Championships next week in Casper.

WHSAA 4A East Regional results — Newcastle

100: Sage Lichtenberger, 2-2, 7 team points.
120: Abby Tacy, 0-2.
120: Tealah Stevenson, 1-2, 6 team points.
125: Courtney Matthews, 3-2, 6th place, 10.5 team points.
130: Savannah Lorenz, 0-2.
135: Netanya Prell, 2-2, 8th place, 9 team points.
140: Brylee Caster, 5-1, 3rd place, 17 team points.
170: Natalie Dean, 1-2, 4 team points.
235: Laila Lopez, 0-2, 8th place.

Team finish: 15th place, 26 teams.