April 17, 2024

Two Panthers to finals of state wrestling

By RYAN KRONBERG
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Creston/Orient-Macksburg's Kadon Hulett reacts after his thrilling 2-1 win in sudden victory over Assumption, Davenport's Noah Broderson in the Class 2A 220-pound semifinal at the state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. (CNA photo)

DES MOINES — Creston/Orient-Macksburg senior Kadon Hulett jogged off the mat and towards the southwest tunnel of Wells Fargo Arena where the Panthers congregate before and after matches.

The first person to meet him there was his longtime teammate and friend Chase Shiltz.

The two Panther seniors have shared much over the years.

Tonight (Saturday), they'll have the opportunity to share one more thing together: what it could be like to be champions together.

Both Shiltz and Hulett reached the finals of the state wrestling tournament with wins Friday night during the Class 2A semifinals.

Shiltz moved on with a solid 9-2 win over Dubuque Wahlert's Boone McDermott at 182 pounds.

Shiltz (55-0) will face Ben Lee (41-9) of Ballard, Huxley.

Hulett was more dramatic.

Tied at 1-1 and with neither wrestler gaining the upper hand in the one-minute sudden victory tiebreaker, Hulett took down to start the first of two 30-second tiebreakers.

Hulett escaped his with time to spare against top-ranked Noah Broderson of Assumption, Davenport.

Broderson stood up, but he never could break free of Hulett's gigantic paws.

Hulett held on for a 2-1 win.

Hulett (54-2) will face Jordan Baumler (28-4) of North Fayette Valley.

Two other Panther wrestlers are assured medals.

Both Mitchel Swank (145) and Jackson Mikkelsen (195) will wrestle in consolation semifinal and final round this morning and afternoon.

Swank fell to top-ranked and Iowa State commit Ryan Leisure by fall in 5:09.

Mikkelsen advanced to the consolation semifinals with a pin in 1:03 of Ballard's Seth Moore.

Creston/Orient-Macksburg is poised to bring home another team trophy. The Panthers sit in third with 65.5 points. Assumption, Davenport is fourth with 64 points. Atlantic is sixth with 45 points.

New Hampton, led by former Creston/Orient-Macksburg assistant coach Nick Hemann, is leading Class 2A with 88 points. Solon is second with 80 points.

Wrestling in the consolation semifinals and finals starts at 10 a.m. The Grand March kicks off the finals festivities at 6 p.m. with matches from Classes 3A, 2A and 1A to follow, all at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.