Mohawks win district, send six to state meet
By KIRK HARDCASTLE,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
#video{display:none;float:left;margin-right:10px;} #audio{display:none;float:left;margin-right:10px;} #slideshow{display:none;float:left;margin-right:10px;} #news_img{float:right;border:1px solid #000000; width:350px;float:right;margin:0 0 10px 10px;} #news_img_temp img{width:350px;} #news_img_cutline{border-top:1px solid #ffffff;width:350px;background-color:#CCCCCC;padding:2px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;text-align:left;} #img-breakout_box{display:block;}  FORT DODGE — Clint Krieger couldn’t stop smiling.And you couldn’t blame the Mason City senior 285-pounder, who is going to the state tournament for the first time in his career Saturday. “This is amazing,” Krieger said. “Everybody knows that this is my first trip because of my injury last year. “Last year was such a low year. Now I get second in conference and win districts, this is just amazing.” Krieger pinned Ankeny’s Thomas Heidersheit in 5:22 to claim the district title to become the sixth Mohawk to earn a trip to this week’s state tournament in Des Moines. Mason City, which won the Class 3A district title with 209 points, crowned five champions and had one runner-up. Ankeny was second with 186 points and Spencer was third with 172.5 points. By winning the district meet, Mason City advances to the Class 3A regional duals, which are set for Feb. 23 at a site to be determined. “After a district tournament, it’s always such a weird day,” Mason City coach Dusty Rhodes said. “You’re happy about some things and you’re disappointed about other things. “And at some point, you hope you accept it and are somewhat satisfied with what you have and where you are going.” Bartel, who was the 189-pound champion, called the district team title “special.” “Anything is possible in wrestling,” Bartel said. “We knew we had our work cut out for us. We just had to fight, fight, fight.” Mason City’s Blake Spotts (119), Valentine Flores (135), Travis Mallo (171) also advanced to the state tournament as district champions. The Mohawks’ Parker Sturges (125) moved on to state as a runner-up to Fort Dodge’s Duke Egli. Flores and Mallo pinned their way to district titles. Flores pinned Ames’ Devin Becraft in 3:12 to earn his return trip to the state tournament. “I was looking for the pin,” said Flores, who was eighth at state a year ago. “I had two pins earlier and I was just looking to pin my way through districts. “That’s something that I always wanted to accomplish and that’s what I came here to do.” Mallo stuck Spencer’s Jordan Rasmussen in 2:14 to claim his district title. Mallo led 9-1 in the first period before taking Rasmussen to his back for the fall and his first district title. “It feels good to get that first district title,” Mallo said. “Hopefully, I can just carry this momentum into state and keep rolling.” While Flores, Bartel and Mallo are returning to the state tournament, this will be the first trip for Spotts, Sturges and Krieger. Spotts, who topped Spencer’s John Christopherson 6-2 in the finals, placed third at districts a year ago, just missing out on a trip to Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. “I thought about last year every day until (Saturday),” Spotts said. “This has always been my goal.” Now with Saturday’s district title behind them, the Mohawks begin focusing on Wednesday and the opening round of the state tournament. Bartel, who edged Ankeny’s Erik Rasmussen 5-2 in the finals, said it boils down to hard work. “Everything I’ve worked for so far has paid off,” he said. “I just have to keep on fighting.” Team Standings Mason City 209, Ankeny 186, Spencer 172.5, Fort Dodge 169, Ames 141.5, Storm Lake 116.5, Boone 61.5, Denison 48. Championship matches 103 — Matt Birnbaum (FD) pinned David Habhab (Ames), 3:19. 112 — Jake Agnitsch (Ames) dec. Nate Lentsch (FD), 8-3. 119 — Blake Spotts (MC) dec. John Christopherson (S), 7-1. 125 — Duke Egli (FD) dec. Parker Sturges (MC), 4-2. 130 — Matt Fontana (Ankeny) dec. Tanner Schaefer (S), 7-2. 135 — Valentine Flores (MC) pinned Devin Becraft (Ames), 3:12. 140 — Luke Swalla (Ames) dec. James Randall (S), 13-8. 145 — Cole Clarken (FD) pinned Carson Powell (Ankeny), :21. 152 — Ben Swalla (Ames) dec. Max Krieger (MC), 4-3. Wrestleback — Matt Wilkerson (S) dec. Max Krieger (MC), 6-1. 160 — Rob Myers (Ankeny) dec. Tyler Schaefer (S), 4-1. 171 — Travis Mallo (MC) pinned Jordan Rasmussen (S), 2:14. 189 — Jared Bartel (MC) dec. Erik Rasmussen (Ankeny), 5-2; Wrestleback — Rasmussen major dec. Jake Larson (SL), 10-2. 215 — Nathan Lubinus (Ames) dec. Jacob Heiden (D), 3-2; Wrestleback — Kris Rhode (S) pinned Heiden, 3:07. 285 — Clint Krieger (MC) pinned Thomas Heidersheit (Ankeny), 5:22. Other Mason City placewinners 112 — Cody King, third; 130 — Tim Rickard, fifth; 140 — Dillon Coe, fourth; 145 — Tanner Hoy, sixth; 160 — Jordan Flaherty, sixth; 215 — Aaron Kacer, fifth. |