Kirt Manion
kmanion@cherryroad.com

Nebraska City High School wrestler Makayla Vasser continued her busy off season of wrestling through the month of April and into the month of May bringing her event total to eight since the conclusion of the Nebraska high school season, three state events and five national events.

On May 4, Vasser wrestled at the Nebraska USA Greco/Freestyle tournament and was the champ for both styles. Combined with her first-place finish in Nebraska USA Folkstyle back in March, Vasser is now a Triple Crown Champion.

Vasser’s freestyle championship run at 170 pounds included three pins and one tech fall win against a two-time state champion.

On Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24, Vasser competed at the U.S. Open Freestyle tournament at Las Vegas and made it to the finals at 190 pounds. Her only loss of the event came against a Wisconsin grappler who is rated No. 1 in the country. The Wisconsin wrestler had won all her matches by pin in half-minute time frames. Vasser was able to push the match for two-plus minutes and, at one point, trailed just 4-3.

Also of recent note, Vasser wrestled on April 11 at the Kansas City Adidas National Duals and went 5-0. She wrestled on April 12-13 at Twin River Duals in Des Moines and went 5-2.