INDEPENDENCE — The dog days of winter have apparently hit Iola High’s wrestling squad. Iola 33, Caney Valley 17 Independence 45, Iola 35
The Mustangs fared well on the mat Thursday evening, scoring more points than either host Independence or Caney Valley in contested matches.
But the performance left head coach Brad Carson wanting more.
“Coach (Ron Schomaker) and I weren’t too pleased with our focus and intensity,” Carson said. “We looked lethargic out there.”
Iola won five of its eight contested matches against Caney Valley in winning, 33-17. The Mustangs outscored Independence, 17-15, in its contested matches, but still wound up on the short end of a 45-35 final score, due to forfeits at low weight levels.
“I don’t know if the guys are worn out or what, but we should be hitting our peak right now,” Carson said. “We don’t have a lot of season left. Regionals aren’t that far away.”
Among Iola’s highlights:
Cody Conner (152 pounds), Tavon Blazek (170) and Andrew Garber (182) all won both of their matches. Conner pinned Caney Valley’s Blake Hollandsworth in the second period, and via technical fall by outscoring Independence’s Quinton Mason, 16-1. Blazek earned second-period pins over both Caney’s Isaac Jones and Independence’s Ricky Pando. Garber shut out the Bulldog’s Brycen Gulick, 6-0, before pinning Independence’s Chase Null in the second period.
“Andrew did a good job,” Carson said, noting Garber has improved to 10-1 since moving to 182 pounds, one of the most competitive weight levels in the state. “Tavon did some good things, but he scares me because he goes so hard and out of control that it puts him in a bad position at times. Cody really did a good job of working on some new things that we’ve been working on in practice. I was happy with that.”
Bryce Misenhelter remains undefeated at 195 pounds. He averted early trouble against Wyatt Anderson of Caney, falling behind 4-0 before rebounding to earn a second-period pin.
“The kid caught Bryce in a bad position, but he’s squirrelly enough that he got out of it pretty quickly and took control. He’s been working a lot in practice at getting better on his feet, things he’ll need at regionals and state, if he makes it that far.”
Travis Rieske went 1-1, pinning Dalton Kastning of Caney and losing via pin to Jordan Mead of Independence, the third-ranked Class 4A wrestler at 145 pounds.
“Even going up against one of the best wrestlers in the state, I was happy with how Travis got out of an early hold,” Carson said. “It shows he’s fighting.”
John Whitworth (160 pounds), Seth Sanford (220) and Colton Toney (285) each went 1-1, with a caveat. Each lost his only contested match.
Whitworth was leading Brady Hawkins of Caney Valley, 9-6 on points, when Hawkins got a takedown midway through the second period that Whitworth could not escape. Hawkins pinned Whitworth with 34.1 seconds left in the period.
“I don’t want John to use this as an excuse, but his mistakes are things that wrestlers do when they aren’t experienced,” Carson said.
Sanford, against Seth Stroble of Independence, and Toney, against Stephen Baker of Caney Valley, both made it to the second period against their opponents in scoreless deadlocks. Neither of the freshmen, however, could make it through the second period, losing with pins.
“Seth had only one day of practice this week because of illness,” Carson said. “I liked how they both fought hard.”
Michael Armstrong, at 138 pounds, had the toughest night. He lost via technical fall to Colton Stafford, 16-1, then went to overtime against Conagher Welch of Independence before losing a heartbreaker, 8-6.
In the overtime loss, Armstrong twice narrowly missed earning reversal points as the clock expired at the end of both the second and third periods.
THE WRESTLERS have a busy week ahead.
On Thursday, the wrestlers will be at home for the only time this season, when the Mustangs host Osawatomie and West Elk in a pair of duals. The Silver Lake Invitational next Saturday wraps up the regular season for the varsity.
Regionals are Feb. 21 and 22 at Burlington.
138 — Colton Stafford (CV) def. Michael Armstrong (I), technical fall (15-0)
145 — Travis Rieske (I) def. Dalton Kastning (CV), pin, :54
152 — Cody Conner (I) def. Blake Hollandsworth (CV), pin, 3:33
160 — Brady Hawkins (CV) def. John Whitworth (I), pin, 3:26
170 — Tavon Blazek (I) def. Isaac Jones, pin, 2:27
182 — Andrew Garber (I) def. Brycen Gulick (CV), 6-0
195 — Bryce Misenhelter (I) def. Wyatt Anderson (CV), pin 3:35
220 — Seth Sanford (I) win (forfeit)
285 — Stephen Baker (CV) def. Colton Toney, pin, 2:39
106 — Independence wins (forfeit)
113 — Independence wins (forfeit)
120 — Independence wins (forfeit)
126 — Independence wins (forfeit)
132 — Independence wins (forfeit)
138 — Conagher Welch (Ind.) def. Armstrong, 8-6 (OT)
145 — Jordan Mead (Ind) def. Rieske, pin, 3:07
152 — Conner def. Quinton Mason (Ind.), technical fall (16-1)
160 — Whitworth win (forfeit)
170 — Blazek def. Ricky Pando (Ind.), pin, 2:25
182 — Garber def. Chase Null (Ind.), pin, 3:16
195 — Misenhelter win (forfeit)
220 — Seth Stroble (Ind.) def. Sanford, pin, 3:16
285 — Toney win (forfeit)
Iola wrestlers earn split in road matches
