By Rich Winter

605 Sports

PIERRE — One of the faces noticeably absent from the 2024 state girls wrestling tournament was Pierre junior Ciara McFarling. 

The three-time 285-pound state champion had several curve balls thrown her way this season and was unable to compete in the sport she cherishes. 

“I started the season off overweight (girls maximum dropped from 285 to 250 this season),” she said. “I just about had the weight off and I got a concussion mid-season and that set me back further. I didn’t have enough time to wrestle any tournaments that would have allowed me to go to the state tournament.” 

Before the concussion, McFarling was going to practice every day despite not being able to wrestle. Not being on the mat made McFarling miss the sport that has given her so much. 

“I missed it every day,” she said. “Wrestling has been a big part of my life and not having the team atmosphere and the competition was difficult.” 

The last time South Dakota wrestling fans saw McFarling on the mat was the 2023 state tournament. In the final match, McFarling overcame a big deficit to notch her third state title with a third-period pin of Watertown’s Hope Orr. 

“Hope had me on my back early and nearly pinned me,” she said. “Once I got off my back I knew I couldn’t let that happen again and somehow I found a way to win.”

With the Governor girls in a tight battle with Canton for the team title at the 2024 state meet, McFarling said she had confidence in the team. 

“I knew my team could hold their own,” she said. “I knew that with or without me they could win. I loved being there and being able to support them through the state tournament.” 

After a strange and disappointing junior season, McFarling said being at the state tournament, and seeing the level of competition improve, gives her motivation for a big senior year. 

“Seeing all the girls at state helped my drive and I want to be better than I was as a sophomore,” she said. “Seeing all the competition on the mat makes me want to come back and take my title.”