Panthers seventh at duals

DES MOINES — Jacob Goodson’s final career match as a Creston/Orient-Macksburg wrestler went like so many others in his standout prep career.

His reaction after the Panthers’ final match of Wednesday’s Class 2A dual state team tournament was anything but that of after a normal match.

Teammates and coaches embraced their little grappler, some of the physically larger teammates and coaches wrapping him in their arms with a thankful embrace for four years of hard work and dedication to the program.

Those embraces allowed the Panthers senior an opportunity to express the emotion welling out of his heart and soul, a realization that his prep wrestling career is over.

Goodson capped Creston/Orient-Macksburg’s 49-13 win over Atlantic with a pin of in 3:49.

Creston/Orient-Macksburg finished the day with a seventh-place finish at Wells Fargo Arena.

Goodson’s emotions welled over as he was given hugs by head coach Darrell Frain and assistant Cody Downing.

He melted into the big arms and hands of classmate Kadon Hulett, letting a flood of emotions be unleashed.

“I told myself I wasn’t going to cry and I did,” Goodson said. “Kado coming talking to me meant a lot.”

Hulett had encouraging words for his long time teammate.

“He grew up this year,” Hulett said. “We talked about from last year to the middle of the year this year, he turned a page. He grew up. He became a man. I told him I’m proud of what he did this year.”

“He turned a new leaf over. He became who he is. It will help him later in life.”

Hearing from his teammate meant plenty.

“It’s the guys next to me,” Goodson said. “Kadon, Chase — they make it worth it.”

Hulett rallying around Goodson, Goodson receiving embraces from his teammates, the applause of the Panther faithful after the match ended showed what wrestling is.

“We wanted to make sure he knows how much everybody cares,” Frain said. “I told him he’s important. We love him.”

“We always tell everybody in and every team says it, but in wrestling, you truly are family. We have his back no matter what.”

A number of underclassmen and reserves picked up big wins in the dual against Atlantic, as Frain, along with the Atlantic coach staff, sat out their traditional state qualifiers.

Among those picking up wins included Brant Looney, Mason Kinsella, Sam Chapman, Trevor Kinyon and Blake Sevier.

For Sevier, it could be something he uses to springboard to next season.

“It’s just great,” Sevier said. “I wanted to show the crowd what’s coming up next year. I had a great time. I’m ready to wrestle next year.”

Sevier soaked up the experience with the team, using it as a way to envision the future.

“I walked through those doors and this is what it’s going to feel like next year when I’m here,” Sevier said. “I’m ready to go.”

Creston/Orient-Macksburg’s day started off with a 39-36 loss to Assumption, Davenport.

Each team won seven matches, but the Knights had six pins to the Panthers’ five.

“We couldn’t stay off our back in the matches that mattered against Assumption,” Frain said. “They got one more pin. That was the difference. That’s the way it works.”

The match against Assumption followed a trend the Panthers have had this season.

“We either get pins or get pinned,” Frain said. “It kicked us in the rear.”

For the traditional state qualifiers, the day had some benefits.

“Coming into this, we have an advantage over kids who don’t wrestle,” Hulett said. “We get to go against kids we haven’t seen in awhile It helps us get blows in, get down to weight, get into wrestling.”

Six Creston/Orient-Macksburg wrestlers are on the mat tonight (Thursday) for first round action at the traditional state tournament. Action starts at 6 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.

Assumption, Davenport 39, Creston/Orient-Macksburg 36

113 — Jacob Goodson (C/O-M) pinned Noah Weiman (AD) 3:28; 120 — Jacob Felderman (AD) pinned Carson Wheat (C/O-M) 4:49; 126 — Sean Casey (AD) pinned Cade Vicker (C/O-M) 5:04; 132 — Kelby Luther (C/O-M) dec. Adam Laubenthal (AD) 6-4; 138 — Matt Robertson (AD) pinned Tristan Travis (C/O-M) 3:40; 145 — Trevor Marlin (C/O-M) pinned Jack Thomas (AD) 2:23; 152 — Mitchel Swank (C/O-M) pinned Joe Deckert (AD) 2:29; 160 — Julien Broderson (AD) pinned Sam Chapman (C/O-M) :31; 170 — Brock Timmons (AD) pinned Kolby Tomas (C/O-M) 2:37; 182 — Chase Shiltz (C/O-M) pinned Cannon Kelly (AD) :36; 195 — Jackson Mikkelsen (C/O-M) dec. Peter Laubenthal (AD) 7-2; 220 — Kadon Hulett (C/O-M) pinned Seth Adrian (AD) 3:40; 285 — Noah Broderson (AD) pinned Cody Tanner (C/O-M) 2:34; 106 — Trenton McDonough (AD) dec. Brodie Starlin (C/O-M) 4-0.

Denver-Tripoli 43, Creston/Orient-Macksburg 28

120 — Gabe Lewis (DT) pinned Brayton Chesnut (C/O-M) 1:57; 126 — Blake Steege (DT) pinned Cade Vicker (C/O-M) 1:12; 132 — Riley Wright (DT) maj. dec. Kelby Luther (C/O-M) 14-4; 138 — Caleb Wilson (DT) dec. Trevor Marlin (C/O-M) 15-12; 145 — Mitchel Swank (C/O-M) won by forfeit; 152 — John Ebaugh (DT) dec. Brant Looney (C/O-M) 11-5; 160 — Cael Krueger (DT) pinned Sam Chapman (C/O-M) 3:10; 170 — Brody Brocka (DT) pinned Kolby Tomas (C/O-M) 2:42; 182 — Chase Shiltz (C/O-M) pinned Trevor Dorn (DT) 1:26; 195 — Jackson Mikkelsen (C/O-M) maj. dec. Seth Damm (DT) 9-0; 220 — Kadon Hulett (C/O-M) pinned Keenan Balhmann (DT) 1:13; 285 — Brock Farley (DT) dec. Cody Tanner (C/O-M) 1-0; 106 — Jacob Moore (DT) pinned Hunter Fry (C/O-M) 1:19; 113 — Jacob Goodson (C/O-M) pinned Carter Littefield (DT) 1:56.

Creston/Orient-Macksburg 49, Atlantic 13

126 — Cade Vicker (C/O-M) pinned Tanner Williamson (A) :25; 132 — Kelby Luther (C/O-M) dec. Colby Sorensen (A) 7-2; 138 — Trevor Marlin (C/O-M) maj. dec. Colton Mudd (A) 14-6; 145 — Connor Pellett (A) pinned Tristan Travis (C/O-M) 3:47; 152 — Brant Looney (C/O-M) pinned Macus Duranceau (A) 1:26; 160 — Mason Kinsella (C/O-M) dec. Devin Siedlik (A) 6-4; 170 — Sam Chapman (C/O-M) dec. Dawson Carey (A) 9-6; 182 — Austin Mills (A) maj. dec. Kolby Tomas (C/O-M) 16-5; 195 — Trevor Kinyon (C/O-M) won by forfeit; 220 — no match; 285 — Blake Sevier (C/O-M) pinned Nate Moen (A) :56; 106 — Aybren Moore (A) dec. Hunter Fry (C/O-M) 6-2; 113 — Luke Latham (C/O-M) won by forfeit; 120 — Jacob Goodson (C/O-M) pinned Benard McGee (A) 2:45.

Class 2A results — 1 New Hampton, 2. Solon, 3 Assumption, Davenport, 4. Washington, 5. Denver-Tripoli, 6. Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 7. Creston/Orient-Macksburg, 8. Atlantic.

Final round results — 1. New Hampton def. Solon 45-23; 3. Assumption, Davenport def. Washington 40-25; 5. Denver-Tripoli def. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 38-27; 7. Creston/Orient-Macksburg def Atlantic 49-13.