Semoball Awards: Freeman's historic freshman season earns honor

Poplar Bluff's Zoe Freeman, right, has her hand raised after winning her opening match Thursday at the MSHSAA girls championship tournament at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.

SEMOBALL/Ryan Mitchell

Poplar Bluff’s Zoe Freeman was named Girls Wrestling Athlete of the Year at the 2022 Semoball Awards recently after a stellar season for the Mules.

As a freshman, Freeman finished with a 42-3 record and was fifth in the state tournament while winning the SEMO Conference and district championships.

Zoe Freeman, a freshman at Poplar Bluff, is presented the Girls Wrestling Athlete of the Year during the 2022 Semoball Awards on Friday, July 8, 2022, in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN/India Hampton

Two of Freeman’s losses were in the state tournament.

“(Poplar Bluff) has never had a girl place at the state tournament before,” Freeman said. “I’m just glad I was able to make some history this season.”

At the state tournament, Freeman was 4-2 and was the only freshman in the 174-pound weight division. After winning the first round via a takedown at 1:27, Freeman lost in the second round by fall at 1:55. She rebounded in the fifth place match with an 8-2 win.

In the regular season, Freeman won her first 31 matches before losing by fall at 3:09 in the Seckman’s Women’s Tournament back on January 29 and finished second. She later beat the same wrestler by pin at 3:36 in the district tournament.

Mercy is the presenting sponsor of the Semoball Awards, the area’s premier awards show recognizing student-athletes and coaches in Southeast Missouri.

“It was the last tournament of the season and I had my first loss in that tournament,” Freeman said. “I had to go against the same girl in the second round and I was able to pin her so that was my favorite memory from this season.”

Entering her sophomore year, Freeman is looking to build off of a successful freshman season with the Mules.

“I’m wanting to improve next year as a sophomore,” she said.

Outside of wrestling, Freeman is also a manager for the Mules football team.