March 29, 2024

Panthers’ Wray signs with Iowa Western

State runner-up wrestler Spencer Wray of Creston has signed a National Letter of Intent to wrestle at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.

Wray made it official in a signing ceremony Monday morning at Creston High School.

“I think he fits perfect,” Creston/O-M coach Darrell Frain said. “Iowa Western is an up and coming program. Coach Josh Watts wrestled (Creston’s) Michael Mickey in the state finals, from Assumption. If you come out of that conference to make nationals, you have a good chance to be an All-American.”

Five Reivers achieved All-American status by placing in the top eight at the Jacobson Exhibition Center in Des Moines last season. Oscar Ramirez (149 pounds) was the first in the four-year history of the program to reach the championship round, finishing second to No. 1 Nosomy Pozo of North Iowa Area.

IWCC finished tied for eighth in the team race, topping its previous high-water mark of 13th from last year.

Iowa Western’s five All-Americans equal its total from the previous two national meets combined.

At 141 pounds, Wray will be in the same weight class where NIACC redshirt freshman Jake Marlin of Creston placed second at the national tournament.

The other former Panther wrestling collegiately is Kruz Adamson, 125-pounder at Graceland University.

“I was also thinking about Graceland, Bacone (Oklahoma) and NIACC,” Wray said. “I just liked it over there (Iowa Western). They have a really good program going and it’s a little closer to home. I know a couple of kids on the team. They had a good spot open and made an offer.”

One of eight Reivers to qualify for the national tournament last season was former Atlantic wrestler Dillon Cox at 125 pounds.

Wray completed a 30-3 senior season by making it to the Class 2A 138-pound finals, where he was defeated by top-ranked Brady Jennings of Osage. His charge to the championship round included a pin of 10th-ranked Pierce Gelhaus of Forest City in the quarterfinals, and an 8-3 semifinal victory over Solon’s Cole Fritz.

Wray finished with 111 career wins and is tied for 17th in program history with 61 falls. He was co-winner of the Mike Abel Outstanding Wrestler Award with sophomore state champion Chase Shiltz.

The son of Lori Wray of Creston and Bobby Wray has a long-range academic plan that will get a good start at Iowa Western.

“I’m just going to get my gen eds done over there in the first two years, and after that probably go to a university and pursue a major in business,” Wray said.

Frain, who cited Wray’s leadership last winter on a team that was Class 2A runner-up and fourth in the 2A State Dual Tournament, is excited about his senior’s opportunity.

“This is a great accomplishment for Spencer,” Frain said. “Wrestling has helped him get through school and now it’s gotten him a chance for a college education. Things are going in the right direction for Spencer. He has goals for his future.”

Wray, 18, also recently made his MMA debut in a bout at Knoxville that he won in less than two minutes. He said that won’t conflict with his status on the Iowa Western wrestling team.

“I started training at Henry’s Martial Arts with Josh Henry my freshman year,” Wray said. “Then this was my first bout after I turned 18. As long as I’m not receiving money, I can continue fighting as an amateur.”