February 24, 2025

Adams, Van Manen lead Newton girls to fourth at Cardinal Classic

Five Cardinals finish in top five at home tournament

By Troy Hyde
Ashlyn Van Manen

Newton junior Ashlyn Van Manen, top, finished first at 190 pounds at the Newton Girls Cardinal Classic on Saturday. The Newton girls wrestling team placed fourth at its home tournament. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Kylee Adams and Ashlyn Van Manen won individual titles, three other Cardinals placed third at their respective weights and the Newton girls wrestling team placed fourth at the Newton Girls Cardinal Classic on Saturday.

Adams and Van Manen combined for five bonus-point victories and Stella Cupples and Johana Cerna each were 3-1 with three wins by pin.

The Cardinals scored 141.5 points in fourth. Pella (142) edged Newton by a half point in third. South Tama County won the tournament championship with 260 points and Carlisle was next with 204.5.

Kamiya Lepley

Newton sophomore Kamiya Lepley, top, won three matches at the Cardinals' home tournament on Saturday. She was fourth at 155 pounds. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

The rest of the top six featured Indianola (136) and Knoxville (93) and the back half of the 12-team lineup included Martensdale-St. Marys (67), Oskaloosa (62.5), Central Decatur (60), Pleasantville (43), Ballard (34.5) and Wayne (17).

South Tama won the tournament with 17 wrestlers, while Carlisle entered 20 and Newton had 16. Pella (13) was the only other team with more than 10.

Adams (3-0) and Van Manen won individual titles at 110 and 190 pounds.

Adams, who is currently ranked fourth in Class 2A at 100, was 3-0 with wins by pin, technical fall and major decision. Class 2A No. 7 Van Manen (4-1) won both of her matches by fall.

Cupples, Juliana Maldonado-Hildago and Cerna placed third at 115, 120 and 140, respectively.

Kylee Adams

Newton sophomore Kylee Adams, top, won the individual title at 110 pounds during the team's home tournament on Saturday. She was 3-0 with three bonus-point victories. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Cupples (5-2) finished 3-1 with three pins and her lone loss came against Pella’s Isabella Smith.

Maldonado-Hildago (4-3) had a 4-1 day with three pins. She also won a 9-8 decision.

Cerna (5-2) matched Cupples with a 3-1 day and three pins. Two of her pins came in 30 and 33 seconds.

Kamiya Lepley (4-4) had a three-win day at 155. She was 3-2 and finished fourth with one pin and two major decisions.

The Cardinals’ other top-five finish came from Isabel Talley (4-2) at 235. She was fifth and 1-2 for the day, but her win was an 18-second pin.

Grace Guy finished sixth at 170 and Jeralys Casanova and London Everhard were seventh at 130 and 135, respectively. Casanova was 2-2 with two pins.

Alivia Conely

Newton sophomore Alivia Conely, top, wrestles a match at 125 pounds during the Newton Girls Cardinal Classic on Saturday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Newton 45, Indianola 36

INDIANOLA — The Cardinals took advantage of six forfeit victories during a 45-36 road win over Indianola on Thursday.

Adams and Cupples both won their contested matches and Maldonado-Hildalgo (120), Cerna (140), Lepley (155), Guy (170), Van Manen (190) and Talley (235) all accepted forfeits.

Adams won 5-2 at 110, while Cupples scored a win by fall at 115.