Injury Halts McDougal's Championship Quest

On the verge of being a dominant factor in girl's 4A wrestling in only her freshman year, Anna McDougal's season ended suddenly just 1 minute and 29 seconds into the )SAA Girls Championship wrestling match at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Saturday night, February 24. 

Elmira freshman Anna McDougal is declared victor in a match earlier this season.  McDougal was the state runner up in the girls division.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie.

"She (Hood Valley senior Grace Miller) had me on my back," described McDougal.  "I was arching to get a reversal and that's when it happened, like a stinger."  The sudden paralysis in her arms turned the festive nature of the state championship tournament into a harrowing time of silence as McDougal was attended by paramedics on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital, McDougal's suspicion of a neck stinger was realized. 

"I had to wear a neck brace for a week," McDougal noted with disgust.

The loss in the championship round does nothing to lessen the astounding success of the youngster from Veneta.  All the freshman did was compile a 30-9 record in her first season.  This included a staggeringly dominant 26 pins.  McDougal has recovered nicely as of press time and that means three more seasons of strong showings going forward.  When asked if she thought she was going to win the championship match against Miller, McDougal only smiled coyly.