Leah Stewart signs to throw with the Wartburg College Knights

By John Burbridge 

sports@charlescitypress.com 

CHARLES CITY — Combat sports tend to produce the fiercest of rivalries.

They also can forge the strongest friendships.

During Leah Stewart’s wrestling career, Kamryn Steines has been there for her during several of Stewart’s crowning achievements. Like when Stewart recorded her 100th career prep victory during her final season with the Charles City Comets.

Steines was there. In fact, Steines — a senior at Decorah — was the opponent Stewart defeated to reach the century mark.

Wrestling in the same class (A) and weight bracket (190 pounds), and perennially state ranked, Stewart and Steines often met in the finals or semifinals of tournaments that put them in the same building.

“We’ve become real close friends,” Stewart said of Steines, whom she defeated in all their highly contested matches this past season on the road to eventually placing second at the State Girls Wrestling Championships — Stewart lost a 1-0 decision to Mount Vernon standout Libby Dix in the title match.

Steines is continuing her wrestling career at Wartburg College. Stewart has decided to “retire” from wrestling, but she’s not leaving scholastics sports, yet, and she credits Steines in helping her decide her course of action.

“She asked me if I wanted to be her roommate down at Wartburg,” said Stewart, who was planning to throw for a college track and field team but was undecided for which school. “That’s why I chose Wartburg.”

During her throwing career at Charles City, Stewart has been a Drake Relays and state qualifier in both events — discus and shot put — and currently holds school records in the girls discus (128 feet, 6 inches) and girls shot put (41 feet, 5 inches).

Stewart is also a multiple letter-winner in football where she played her share of snaps as an offensive and defensive lineman, and as an impactful special teams player.

“I like to hit people … I’m not afraid to make contact,” said Stewart, who will major in criminal justice at Wartburg. “I love football. I got into it because of my brother (Jonathan), but like wrestling, I’m leaving that behind, too. I’m going to focus on throwing.”