Bernard victorious internationally

KIMBALL -- New Ulm wrestler Ali Bernard took first place in the 154 pound weight class Sunday in the Minnesota Girls Wrestling State Championships.

Bernard defeated Anna Jenkins of Michigan and Nickia Jensen of Eden Prairie in a round-robin tournament to win her respective weight class.

It's the second tournament she's won since the high school season ended. She also won in an international competition in Klippan, Sweden March 7 and 8th.

At the Klippan Lady Open Freestyle wrestling tournament, she wrestled in the Cadet (15-17) division in the 70 kg. weight class.

In Sweden, she recorded three falls and a tech fall to go 4-0. She was the only wrestler from the U.S. to claim a gold medal. She wrestled in a bracket with 12 women. She defeated Benita Zarazecka of Poland by technical fall. She then defeated Jonna Svenson and Jenny Fransson by fall. Both were from Sweden.

In the championship, she pinned Nina Skinkova of Czechoslovakia.

She is getting ready for the national competition in Lake Orion, Michigan March 29-30.

Kelly Rasmussen, from Blue Earth Area, was the only other American Cadet to place in the tournament. She placed fourth in the 46 kg. division.