SHENANDOAH — And now it’s five.
The Creston/O-M Panthers clinched their fifth straight Hawkeye 10 Conference dual championship Thursday by sweeping a double dual here against Red Oak and the host Tigers.
The Panthers, No. 2 on the Iowa Wrestling Coaches Association Class 2A dual rankings, improved to 9-0 in conference matches and 13-0 overall with one meet remaining against last-place Council Bluffs St. Albert at home on Jan. 28.
The only teams with one defeat — Glenwood and Harlan — have each lost head-to-head to the Panthers so first place was clinched with Thursday’s victories.
Five conference dual titles in a row speaks to depth created in the program over a period of time, coach Darrell Frain said Thursday night.
“It shows our program has had depth over the years and they keep coming up every year,” Frain said. “We don’t put a lot of focus on it, working more toward the end of the season, but we like to battle in the conference duals. It’s a testament to the kids working their butts off.”
Trevor Marlin (132 pounds), Wyatt Thompson (138), Kadon Hulett (220) and Cody Tanner (285) each had pins against Shenandoah. Kelby Luther (120) won a major decision.
Red Oak forfeited seven weight classes against the Panthers. Luther (126), Joey Huntington (152) and Seth Maitlen (195) won by pins. Thompson and Mitchel Swank (145) picked up technical falls.
Jackson Mikkelsen won two close decisions at 182 pounds for the Panthers. He went overtime to beat Shenandoah’s James Rowe 4-1 in the first tiebreak period, and prevailed 1-0 against Red Oak’s Collin Bruce.
Injury update
Everyone who is healthy contributed to Thursday’s victories against the overmatched Tigers and Mustangs, although there were a couple of sidelined Panthers due to injury situations.
The only appearances by 106-pounder Cade Vicker and 160-pounder Cameron Leith were to take a forfeit victory. Both are nursing shoulder injuries.
“We’ll have them both meet with our trainer (Chris Leonard) at noon Friday and see where we’re at for wrestling this weekend,” Frain said.
The Panthers already have one open weight (132 pounds) in trying to claim their fifth straight team title at the John J Harris Invitational in Corning today and Friday. On this week’s state tournament rankings by the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Official Association, New Hampton is second in Class 2A with eight state-ranked wrestlers and Creston/O-M is No. 3 with six ranked wrestlers.
New Hampton is coached by former Panther assistant Nick Hemann.
“We like to think that if we wrestle at our best, we can have a shot,” said Frain, whose team began two-a-day training sessions this week in preparation for the postseason tournament run. “New Hampton is probably favored in the first five weights and also could make the finals at 138, 152 and 160. We have to win the weight classes we’re supposed to win, and finish higher in the others than they do in the ones we do well in. In the lower weights for us, it comes down to these guys have to place.”
Wrestlers who lose in the first round today at 4 p.m. are eliminated if their first-round opponent loses in the next round. Two winners bracket rounds and one consolation round will be wrestling today. Action resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday. Prior to the final round action will be held in two gyms — Corning Activity Center and Southwest Valley High School with different weight classes in each gym.
“It should be a close one, but that’s what it’s all about.” Frain said.
Hawkeye 10 standings (conf. and overall) — Creston/O-M 9-0 (14-0); Glenwood 7-1 (10-2); Harlan 5-1 (15-8); Kuemper Catholic 5-3 (14-7); Clarinda 6-4 (7-4); Lewis Central 3-2 (12-7); Atlantic 3-3 (11-5); Shenandoah 3-6 (18-12); Red Oak 2-6 (8-12); Denison-Schleswig 1-6 (1-11); St. Albert Catholic 0-9 (3-19).
Creston/O-M 58, Shenandoah 9
120 — Kelby Luther (C/O-M) major dec. Zach Harms (Shen), 9-1.
126 — Harley Martin (Shen) by forfeit.
132 — Trevor Marlin (C/O-M) pinned Brody Bopp (Shen), 5:09.
138 — Wyatt Thompson (C/O-M) pinned Ivan Zamarron (Shen), 1:45.
145 — Mitchel Swank (C/O-M) dec. Jake Johnson (Shen), 4-1.
152 — Joey Huntington (C/O-M)dec. Logan Roberts (Shen), 8-3.
160 — Kyle Owens (Shen) dec. Brody Frain (C/O-M), 10-3.
170 — Chase Shiltz (C/O-M) by forfeit.
182 — Jackson Mikkelsen (C/O-M) dec. James Rowe (Shen), 4-1 TB-1.
195 — Seth Maitlen (C/O-M) dec. Cole Nebel (Shen), 8-2.
220 — Kadon Hulett (C/O-M) pinned J.D. Lewis (Shen), 3:30.
285 — Cody Tanner (C/O-M) pinned Jacob Stenzel (Shen), 1:16.
106 — Cade Vicker (C/O-M) by forfeit.
113 — Jacob Goodson (C/O-M) by forfeit.
Creston/O-M 67, Red Oak 12
113 — Jacob Goodson by forfeit.
120 — Matthew Rouh (C/O-M) by forfeit.
126 — Kelby Luther (C/O-M) pinned Michael Gomez (RO), 2:50.
132 — Alex Selberg (RO) pinned Trevor Marlin (C/O-M), 1:39.
138 — Wyatt Thompson (C/O-M) tech fall Tyler McMann (RO), 22-7 (4:00).
145 — Mitchel Swank (C/O-M) tech fall Clay Selberg (RO), 24-6 (4:00).
152 — Joey Huntington (C/O-M) pinned Luke Mellott (RO), 5:58.
160 — Cameron Leith (C/O-M) by forfeit.
170 — Chase Shiltz (C/O-M) by forfeit.
182 — Jackson Mikkelsen dec. Collin Bruce (RO), 1-0.
195 — Seth Maitlen (C/O-M) pinned Terry Christian (RO), 1:25.
220 — Kadon Hulett (C/O-M) by forfeit.
285 — Zach Hoffman (C/O-M) by forfeit.
106 — Cam Vanderhoof (RO) by forfeit.
Junior varsity
145 — Mason Kinsella (C/O-M) pinned James Kelly (RO), 3:18.
152 — Darrian Fischer (C/O-M) major dec. Nick Dickerson (Shen), 11-3.
160 — Kolby Tomas (C/O-M) pinned Dillion Burns (RO), 1:08.
170 — Trevor Kinyon (C/O-M) pinned Jarrett Maynes (RO), 1:20.
195 — Moritz Johannknecht (C/O-M) pinned Colton Kinneson (RO), 1:31.
195 — Kolten Phelps (C/O-M) dec. Tyler Courtier (Shen), 11-5.
145 — Mason Kinsella (C/O-M) pinned Alix Dailey (Shen), :35.
170 — Kolby Tomas (C/O-M) pinned Jarrett Maynes (RO), :12.
195 — Kolten Phelps (C/O-M) pinned Colton Kinneson (RO), 2:29.
195 — Moritz Johannknecht (C/O-M) dec. Tyler Courtier (Shen), 8-6.