​Aumua gets redemption at third annual Rogue Dual

by Michael Smith

     Then Grain Valley sophomore Sevreign Aumua remembers what happened at last year’s Rogue Dual.
     The event featured the 14 of the best girls wrestlers from Kansas and Missouri facing off against one another as Team Missouri defeated Team Kansas 46-18.
     Aumua competed in her first wrestling all-star dual in that event but was pinned by Manhattan’s Sage Rosario, as she suffered just her second loss that season, coming off a state championship.
     This time, in the third annual Rogue Dual, Aumua got redemption. She pinned two-time Kansas state champion Kammie Schanz of Mulvane in the 149-pound bout to help Missouri roll to a 52-16 victory against Kansas Friday at Avila University.
     This season, Aumua, a junior, completed her first undefeated season as she finished 35-0 and defeated Madeline Haynes of Rockwood Summit in the championship match to earn her second state title at the Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships in February.
     But even after winning on the big stage in Columbia, Aumua said her match with Schanz was more nerve wracking.
     “I was more nervous here because when I wrestled last year in this event, I lost,” Aumua said. “Coming back from that was nerve wracking but I am glad I was able to get the win for them.”
     In her match against Schanz, she put her away quickly but getting a pin in the first period.
     “I never really used this move before,” Aumua said. “I kind of just threw her, I caught her and got the pin. It was neat for me. I am glad I did it.”
     The junior said she enjoyed the experience of teaming with some of the best wrestlers in Missouri and being able to compete against one of the best girls wrestlers from Kansas.
     “It feels really good. I like to find new bonds, especially with girls I haven’t wrestled with before or that I didn’t have relationships with before,” Aumua said. “It’s really good to be on a team with them and be able to talk with them.”
     This spring and summer, Aumia said she plans on competing in more freestyle tournaments. She is a three-sport athlete, also playing soccer and rugby. But she is now more focused on wrestling as she hopes to compete in college.
     “I kind of died down from playing rugby for wrestling,” she said. “I need to learn freestyle more. I am leaning more toward wrestling.”