The Prairie du Chien girls wrestling team started off 2026 last Friday, Jan. 2 by traveling to La Crosse to wrestle in the fourth annual The Clash National Girls Duals Tournament at the La Crosse Center.

Much like with this year boys tournament, The Clash girls tournament (which featured nine teams last year and ten teams in 2024 in the first year as a team tournament) dealt with cancellations stemming from issues such as illness (the Andrew, Ill. tri-op program was forced to withdraw due to sickness in their program) and the timing of the tournament in regards to other holiday tournaments (such as the Bi-State Classic). 

With the girls tournament featuring just three teams in Prairie du Chien, Apple Valley, Minn. and Stillwater, Minn., the event was cut down from a two-day event to one day.

The Hawks opened the event against the Stillwater Ponies and were defeated 52-12. Earning pinfall victories for the Hawks against Stillwater was junior Britney Petsche at 170 pounds over Stillwater ninth grader Astri Stow in 2:28 over  and ninth grader Aleaha Wall at 190 pounds over eighth grader Alyssa Leonard in 2:57.

The second and final dual of the tournament for the Hawks came against the eventual champion Apple Valley Eagles with the Eagles defeating the Hawks 54-18. Earning victories for the Hawks against Apple Valley was Petsche via fall in 3:26 at 170 against Apple Valley seventh grader Reese Siedlecki, sophomore Aspen Gelo over junior Summer Suarez via fall in 1:14 at 118 pounds and ninth grader Lyla Redman over tenth grader Yamilet Lopez in 0:34 at 148 pounds. 

Also wrestling on the day for the Hawks were ninth graders Paytin Primmer and Alyseia Schnitzler and sophomore Hannah Ingham.

The Hawks are back on the mats this Friday, Jan. 9 at the Central Elkader Girls Invitational at Central High School in Elkader. Start time is slated for 4:00 p.m.