March 28, 2024

Venteichers, three Raiders headed for Friday

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DES MOINES — Drew and Derek Venteicher live to see another day at the state wrestling tournament on a bittersweet day for Bedford/Lenox's six state qualifiers.

Drew Venteicher wasn't too happy after a loss to Lisbon's Kaden Kilburg by 8-0 decision. So he used that for fuel to gain his spot in Friday's second round consolations by defeating Killian Welch (Edgewood-Colesburg) by 13-3 major decision.

Derek Venteicher was pressured early on in his match at 182 against Southeast Warren-Melcher-Dallas's Colby Page, but Venteicher secured Page's left arm and stuck him for the win.

Most of Bedford/Lenox's formidable group of big senior wrestlers, Brenden Christensen (195), Chance Strough (220) and Kyler Christensen (285) all fell twice to end their careers.

Nate Briggs (145) fell twice as well.

Of Bedford/Lenox's six competitors Thursday, only Strough had competed before.

“Four of the guys are seniors and this is it. No more. But I told these guys, it’s a big accomplishment even being here. As I told the guys, you worked your butts off, we work hard at sectionals and districts and you’ve got to think about the number of guys that dreamed about being here and didn’t get the opportunity."

Raiders push through three

Don't be surprised if you've heard this one before.

Bryce Shaha and Trae Ehlen started the day off right for Mount Ayr, as the freshman duo worked hard to grab spots in the state quarterfinals by way of victories.

Shaha defeated Kael Brisker of Wilton in an evenly-matched battle at 106 pounds, earning a third-period takedown for a two-point advantage in an eventual 4-3 win.

Trae Ehlen (113) then joined his practice partner, Shaha, in the quarterfinals by way of a thrilling 4-2 ultimate tiebreaker victory over Hinton's Aiden Christiansen. The match, full of twists and turns each way, allowed the freshman to battle through precarious positions and feel the thrill of a match of great magnitude early on. Ehlen faces Heath Moyer of North Linn-Troy Mills for a shot at the semis.

"Trae and Bryce both wrestled really well. I think they both had a case of the nerves coming in. When they got going, it took a while, but they did what they had to do," Mount Ayr coach John Ford said.

Josh Cox (285) fell to Chase Arends of Dike-New Hartford before securing his spot in the second round consolations by defeating Spencer Cox of Western Christian.

Marcus Daughton (160) saw his time as a Raider wrestler come to an end with tough losses to Wyatt Schoenherr of West Monona by fall in the dying seconds of the first period and by an 6-4 loss to Denver's John Ebaugh.

After falling, his head in his hands, emotions on full display, he walked over to embrace coaches Eric Ehlen and Kurt Wallace. He jogged off the mats one last time, the pride and hurt all laid out to bare.

Wittstock's best on display in losses

Matthew Wittstock (138) trailed 7-1 after a period to Denver's Riley Wright, but battled and put Wright back on the defensive before narrowly falling 8-7. Wittstock had several near pinning predicaments to finish his final high school match well.

Wright was the second-ranked wrestler by the Predicament.

"Probably the best I've ever seen Matt wrestle," East Union coach Justin Staver said. "I was really pleased because he has battled nerves his whole career and today he walked in to the biggest stage, and he just did great."

He then fell in a tiebreaker to Drake Harbison of Pekin, 4-3.

Sherman Hayes (132) fell twice by pin, as he was put in early pinning predicaments and couldn't battle back.

Southwest Valley's Teagan Lundquist still has the opportunity to improve upon his seventh-place finish from a year ago after opening up with a pin over Wayne's Tay VanDyne.

He will face fourth-ranked Jacob McBride of Newman Catholic Friday in the 2A quarterfinals session that begins a 2:30 p.m.

Bedford/Lenox

145 – Braydon Nunemaker (EABU) inj. time Nate Briggs (B/L) 3:27; Ethan Eliot (I35) pinned Briggs (B/L) 2:22.

152 – Kaden Kilburg (LISB) maj. dec. Drew Venteicher (B/L) 8-0; Venteicher (B/L) maj. dec. Killian Welsh (EDCO) 13-3.

182 – Derek Venteicher (B/L) pinned Colby Page (SWMD) 3:27.

195 – Hunter Hagen (WEHA) pinned Brenden Christensen (B/L) 4:34; Dalton Holmes (Pano) SV-1 Christensen (B/L) 3-1.

220 – Marquise Paino (Trip) pinned Chance Strough (B/L) 4:48; Chaz Clark (Plea) pinned Strough (B/L) 1:32.

285 – Brian Sadler (Jesu) pinned Kyler Christensen (B/L) 0:49; Alex Wells (WCV) pinned Christensen (B/L) 4:40

Mount Ayr

106 – Bryca Shaha (MA) dec. Kael Brisker (Wilt) 4-3.

113 – Trae Ehlen (MA) UTB Alden Christiansen (HINT) 4-2.

160 – Wyatt Schoenherr (WMV) pinned Marcus Daughton (MA) 1:56; John Ebaugh (DENV) dec. Daughton (MA) 6-4.

285 – Chase Arends (DNH) dec. Josh Cox (MA) 8-4; Cox (MA) pinned Spencer Cox (WECH) 3:38.

East Union

132 – Koby Hanson (MNW) pinned Sherman Hayes (EU) 1:25; Gabriel Lewis (DENV) pinned Hayes (EU) 1:10.

138 – Riley Wright (DENV) dec. Matthew Wittstock (EU) 8-7; Drake Harbinson (PEKI) TB-1 Wittstock (EU) 4-3.

Southwest Valley

126 – Teagan Lundquist (SWV) pinned Tay VanDyne (WACO) 1:22.