The Alliance girls wrestling team emerged victorious at the Top Gun Tournament, securing the team championship for the second consecutive season. Despite facing a more talented field and unknown opponents, the Aviators showcased their skill and determination, with four wrestlers clinching individual titles.
"It feels pretty good to come out of this event with a team championship," said Alliance girls head wrestling coach Dane Johnson. The host Aviators won four weight classes to defend their 2024 team title. "This was a more challenging field and we had a good showing. That's kind of what we wanted, though. We didn't want this to be easy. We want to make this tournament harder and harder on ourselves. We don't want the list of participating teams to come out and have people instantly say we are going to win it."
Individual Champions Lead the Way
The four weight class champions for Alliance were Miley Gross (105), Avery Horning (115), Abigail Mozden (135) and Adilyn Mozden (140). Notably, Horning and Adilyn Mozden successfully defended their weight class championships from 2024.
"It was just a super cool experience for us today," Horning said. "This was definitely a harder tournament than last year. There were some really good teams in the field and I faced a few wrestlers I had never competed against so you never know quite what to expect in those scenarios. Winning my weight class today was definitely a goal of mine coming into the season. It was something I didn't quite expect last year being a new wrestler but it was something I wanted to accomplish this year."
160 Brice Kade Top Gun Highlights
Home Crowd Advantage
Having a large home crowd behind the Aviators definitely helped enhance the experience. "This was actually the first time the girls have had a chance to wrestle at home this season," Johnson said. "I think it gave them a lot of energy. We had a lot of friends and family members for each of the girls and that made a big difference. We have a home dual this week so we are hoping to keep that going."
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The Alliance boys wrestling team also made it a point to come out and support the girls team before the boys finals later in the afternoon. "It meant a lot to have them out here cheering us on," Horning said. "It gave us a lot of energy."
Historical Significance
"We were kind of reflecting on what the girls had accomplished with some of the older coaches after the meet," Johnson said. "The boys team has only managed to win it once in the history of the tournament (which began in 1987). The girls have found a way to win it in both years of its existence.
Top Gun Tournament Champions
| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Alliance Girls |
| Current Year | Alliance Girls |
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