BENTON, La. — The dream started a long time ago, but it finally came to fruition this past Saturday as Ruston High School officially competed in wrestling for the first time in school history as part of the LHSAA at the Ambush of Champions hosted by Benton High School.
“In our inaugural season, days like this Saturday mattered,” Ruston Head Coach Jeremy Hebert said. “Both our boys and girls wrestled with heart, represented Ruston well, and laid another brick in building this program. They competed, they learned, and they showed the kind of fight we want this program known for.”
Five Lady Bearcats finished on the podium, including Brynn Hightower, who took first place in her weight class. Emma Medders, Robyn Harries, and Josie Bishop all took second, while Laini Holloway took third.
As a team, the girls finished third with 69 total points behind both Pittsburg (111) and event champion Benton (137).
“What I loved most about our girls at the tournament was their grit,” Hebert said. “They didn’t back down once. Even when they were tired or behind, they kept coming forward. That’s the Bearcat standard.
These girls are building something brand new, and every match today was a step toward history. They wrestled with purpose, and it showed.”
Senior Dawson Baker picked up the first ever Bearcat victory in school history on the boys side, while
Isaiah Clinton, Fisher Cannon, Cort Jarvis and Luke Pendergrass took victories, as well.
“I’m proud of the way our boys responded,” Hebert said. “We made mistakes, but we made progress. This is a team that learns quickly and fights for every point.”
