Hulett’s comeback highlights Panther championship

Class 3A fourth-ranked Cole Baker had a 6-1 lead early in the second period.

But Class 2A 10th-ranked sophomore Kadon Hulett had the daily regimen of the Creston/Orient-Macksburg wrestling room in his corner.

That extra burst of energy came in handy as Hulett circled on top of Baker several times before breaking Baker’s grasp on his leg, securing the winning takedown with four seconds left in an 8-7 victory for the 220-pound championship of the Panther Invitational here Saturday.

Hulett was one of six Panther individual champions, who led the way for another team trophy in their home event with 255 points. Dallas Center-Grimes was a distance second with 150.5. Other Creston/O-M champs were Spencer Wray (152), Chase Shiltz (160), Tayler Pettit (170), Jackson Mikkelsen (182) and Seth Maitlen (195).

Taking second in the six-man round robin competition in each weight class were Jacob Goodson (113), Brody Frain (126), Mitchel Swank (132), Wyatt Thompson (138), Joey Huntington (145) and heavyweight Jake Gutschenritter, who became the only wrestler to go a full six minutes with Class 1A second-ranked Joe Ricker of Mount Ayr this year in a 9-3 defeat.

Ricker became Mount Ayr’s all-time winningest wrestler Saturday, breaking Erik Freed’s mark of 143 early in the day. He now has 147 victories and should surpass the 150 mark in this weekend’s Ron Scott Duals.

But it was Hulett’s inspiring comeback in the final seconds that ignited the famed “Panther Roar” in the CHS gym in the battle of rated 220-pounders near the end of the tournament.

Baker, a pro baseball prospect and University of Iowa recruit in that sport, scored a reversal to get ahead 6-1 early in the second period, seemingly on his way to the 220-pound title.

But Hulett scored his own reversal to close it to 6-3, starting a wave of momentum. He escaped to start the third period, making it 6-4. When he had a cut above his eye, coach Darrell Frain rushed to wipe it clean and continue wrestling, because he saw his wrestler was winning the battle of fatigue.

“Cole Baker is a good wrestler,” Frain said. “I knew it would be tough to score on him, but I knew the momentum was going our way and he (Baker) was starting to struggle. At that point I felt we could push the pace enough that we would have a chance. If it’s a close match late, I’d like the chances of anyone in our room.”

Hulett took down the tiring Baker with 46 seconds left to tie it at 6-6. In a gamble that he could get another one, he released the Mustang wrestler for a one-point escape.

Then, he got halfway through another takedown shot, but Baker held off Hulett’s attempt to clear his leg through as they circled several times, with the clock winding down under 10 seconds.

“The fact that he got the ankle made me feel good that we’d eventually get the takedown,” Frain said. “My fear was they would go out of bounds and get a fresh start. We were right on the edge.”

Hulett said he could feel he was more energized that his opponent, and just had to finish the move.

“It felt like I was circling forever,” Hulett said. “I felt my leg strength would be better than his arm strength, so I kept going. He was so tired, eventually it was going to break sometime.”

Frain said there is a counter move that might have worked earlier, especially against a tiring wrestler unlikely to react to the quick shift, but he was proud of his wrestler’s fight to the finish.

“That’s a really good win for Kadon,” Frain said.

285 clash

And, although Gutschenritter did not beat Mount Ayr’s second-ranked heavyweight, he trailed only 4-3 late in the second period against Ricker, who was coming off a bout of mononucleosis over the holiday break. Frain said that was a statement match for his senior heavyweight.

“We knew we could go with him,” Frain said. “Jake is right there. He had one bad day down at Leon. Otherwise, he’d be rated. He’s beaten some good kids. He’s in a little better shape than what people think, and a little more athletic than what people think.”

Ricker, who picked up pins in his three other wins Saturday, said he benefited from being pushed by Gutschenritter.

“I needed a six-minute match,” Ricker said, “just to see where I’m at with conditioning. After it, I can tell I need to keep getting in more condition. I better start coming in the mornings, and get it back like last year. Props to him. He made me better, by all means.”

Ricker said he was glad to get the school record for victories, and now has his sights set on 175 wins before the season is over. He is also closing in on the career pins record.

Other area champions were Matthew Wittstock of East Union at 126 pounds over Creston/O-M’s Brody Frain; and the unbeaten Bedford/Lenox duo of Jared Hensley (120 pounds) and Dusten Reed (132 pounds).

Creston/O-M’s Mitchel Swank took second behind Reed after defeating once-beaten Abe Yoder of Greene County by fall in 2:17. Reed then pinned Swank in 49 seconds and topped Yoder 7-3.

Hensley improved to 17-0 by cruising through the 120 division with three pins and a 16-0 technical fall over Creston/O-M’s Trevor Marlin, who placed third.

At 126, Wittstock scored a 5-2 decision over Frain after Frain had edged Josh Mitchell of Bedford/Lenox 4-2 and shut out Drew Kearney of Dallas Center-Grimes, 5-0. Wittstock beat Mitchell 7-2 and Kearney 5-1.

Other champs

Wray picked up Creston/O-M’s first championship, wrestling at 152 pounds one last time before he and several other Panther middleweights drop weight classes this week.

Wray took a 4-1 lead before pinning Nick Brushaber of Dallas Center-Grimes in 5:08. Wray is 8-0 since becoming eligible after the holiday break.

“He weighed in at 145 and said he’d go up one more time for the team,” Frain said. “He stayed with low singles and used his quickness.”

Shiltz, last year’s 145-pound state runner-up, has had only seven matches since returning from knee surgery at the end of the football season. He wasn’t challenged in the 160 weight class with three pins and a 19-4 technical fall.

“It still could be a little while before he really gets challenged,” Frain said. “Right now we’re just getting him in shape.”

East Union’s Brogan Kinyon was the only 170-pound wrestler to not get pinned by Creston/O-M’s Pettit. That match ended in a 16-0 technical fall at the 3:35 mark.

“He just went out and did what he does, very solid,” Frain said.

Mikkelsen downed Seth Willets of Bedford/Lenox 2-0 in a defensive title match, gaining a takedown in the second period.

“Good for him,” Frain said. “When I saw the bracket I thought he had a shot to win. He’s one of those guys who seem to be in every match.”

Maitlen had two pins and decisions of 8-1 and 9-3, the latter over East Union’s Mike Ward, in cruising to the 195 title. Still, Frain thought it wasn’t his best wrestling of the season.

“He was a little off early on, and then looked better in the finals,” Frain said. “I think his knee still hurts. We’ll have to talk to (trainer) Chris Leonard and see if it means maybe holding him out right now, or not. He’ll get where he needs to be when the time comes.”

Coaches Gail Christensen of Bedford/Lenox, Steve Kinyon of East Union and Kurt Wallace of Mount Ayr all felt their squads had some highlights and gained valuable experience.

“It’s awesome to come here and you know it’s guaranteed that your kid will get that many matches,” Wallace said of the round-robin format. “We have some inexperience, so mat time is important for us. Also, it’s important that our kids get to wrestle different people. Here, you see some different teams.”

Creston/O-M’s next action is Thursday at Winterset against the Huskies and Perry, before traveling to the Centerville tournament on Saturday.

Panther Invitational

Team scoring (champs) — 1. Creston/O-M (6) 255; 2. Dallas Center-Grimes (2) 150.5; 3. Greene County (2) 135.5; 4. Bedford/Lenox (2) 124.5; 5. Mount Ayr (1) 90; 6. East Union (1) 74; 7. Creston/O-M JV 56; 8. Creston/O-M 2 16; 9. (tie) East Union JV and Mount Ayr JV 5.

106 — 1. Max Tracy (DC-G) pinned Kane Borgeson (GC), 5:44; 3. Kelby Luther (C/O-M) major dec. Colby Lange (B-L), 8-0; 5. Levi Parrott (EU) pinned Jordan Roberts (MA), :43.

113 — 1. Zane Mulder (DC-G) pinned Jacob Goodson (C/O-M), :22; 3. Carson Wheat (C/O-M JV) major dec. Dylan Heideman (B-L), 13-5; 5. Cade Vicker (C/O-M 2) pinned Adrian Richards (MA), 1:03.

120 — 1. Jared Hensley (B-L) pinned Bryce Murano (DC-G), 3:04; 3. Trevor Marlin (C/O-M) dec. Marcus Daughton (MA), 11-4; 5. Garrett Dahl (C/O-M JV).

126 — 1. Matthew Wittstock (EU) dec. Brody Frain (C/O-M), 5-2; 3. Josh Mitchell (B-L) dec. Drew Kearney (DC-G), 3-0.

132 — 1. Dusten Reed (B-L) pinned Mitchel Swank (C/O-M), :49; 3. Abe Yoder (GC) tech fall Mitchell Jennett (MA), 15-0 (3:48); 5. Mason Kinsella (C/O-M JV) major dec. Nick Bell (DC-G), 14-6.

138 — 1. Jordan Challen (GC) dec. Wyatt Thompson (C/O-M), 3-2; 3. Jacob Murillo (DC-G) dec. Jonathan Vanbuskirk (MA), 7-3; 5. Devin Russo, MA JV.

145 — 1. Tommy Bradshaw (GC) tech fall Joey Huntington (C/O-M), 17-0 (4:00); 3. Grant Staats (MA) pinned Derek Venteicher (B-L), 1:01; 5. Sanden Cheers (EU) dec. Tyler Helm (C/O-M JV), 5-1.

152 — 1. Spencer Wray (C/O-M) pinned Nick Brushaber (DC-G), 5:08; 3. Cal Daughton (MA) pinned Tyler Brokaw (B-L), 1:08; 5. Kolby Tomas (C/O-M JV) pinned Beau Boswell (EU), :47.

160 — 1. Chase Shiltz (C/O-M) tech fall Isaiah Yoder (GC), 19-4 (1:55); 3. Darrian Fischer (C/O-M JV) dec. Zach Johnson (B-L), 10-4; 5. Hunter Wilson (MA).

170 — 1. Tayler Pettit (C/O-M) tech fall Brogan Kinyon (EU), 16-0 (3:35); 3. Keyden Pollock (GC) dec. Alex Winter (DC-G), 5-4.

182 — 1. Jackson Mikkelsen (C/O-M) dec. Seth Willets (B-L), 2-0; 3. Mark Kendall (GC) dec. Clayton Miller (EU), 7-2; 5. Chad Lamb (C/O-M JV).

195 — 1. Seth Maitlen (C/O-M) pinned Hunter Ruth (GC), 3:38; 3. Andrew Seim (DC-G) dec. Mike Ward (EU), 5-2; 5. Jacob Walter (EU JV).

220 — 1. Kadon Hulett (C/O-M) dec. Cole Baker (DC-G), 8-7; 3. Kessler Tomas (EU) pinned George Zito (GC), 1:05.

285 — 1. Joe Ricker (MA) dec. Jake Gutschenritter (C/O-M), 9-3; 3. Bryce Shutt (DC-G) pinned Trevor Downing (C/O-M 2), 2:19; 5. Zach Hoffman (C/O-M JV).