Breakthrough day for EU wrestling

LENOX— Success has been hard to come by for the East Union wrestling team in recent years.

This past week marked a long-awaited breakthrough for the Eagles.

For the coaches, athletes and supporters, Saturday was a monumental day for the team.

East Union won its first traditional tournament team title since 1992 by claiming the Lenox Invitational crown.

The Eagles won a closely contested team title with 195.5 points. Southeast Warren, ranked 10th in Class 1A in the traditional team rankings by The Predicament and ninth by IA Wrestling, was second with 185 points. Lathrop (Mo.) was third with 168 points.

“We had a great day,” said East Union coach Justin Staver. “It was good for the team, good for the program, good for the school.”

The Eagles’ early-season success is building momentum around the program not seen in a long time.

The hard work Staver and assistant coach Jake Hayes is starting to show dividends.

Excitement is building around the program that hasn’t been seen in the better part of 15 years in Afton.

“It’s fun to see the program turning around, fun to see the boys buying into it,” Staver said. “The hard work’s paying off. What we’re doing is working. We’ve had a long dry spell. Hopefully that doesn’t happen again. There’s excitement in the community. Hopefully we keep doing well.”

East Union attacked throughout all of its matches. The aggressiveness paid off.

The Eagles had 22 pins, compared with 13 for the Warhawks.

“That was the difference between first and second,” Staver said. “Credit that to the boys for going for it all, looking for those bonus points. Even if they were up 10, 12 points, they were going for the kill. That was exciting for us.”

East Union’s lighter weights gave the team momentum it built on throughout the day. Cole Wimber placed second at 106 pounds. Levi Parrott was second at 113.

Parrott’s growth this season had been a key for the Eagles.

East Union’s lone title came from Memphis Ripperger at 138.

“He’s wrestling tough,” Staver said. “He had some good matches. He got some bonus points, got a big pin in the finals. That was the best match I’ve ever seen Memphis wrestle,” Staver said.

Matthew Wittstock was second at 145, while Lane Ripperger was second at 285.

Beau Boswell was third at 182 and Kessler Tomas was third at 220.

Jacob Walter was fourth at 160, earning his first medal in a varsity tournament.

Bedford/Lenox placed fourth as a team with 137 points.

The host team was led by Jared Hensley’s win at 120. Hensley, ranked fifth in Class 2A by The Predicament, picked up a 12-0 major decision in the final.

“He’s looking as tough as ever,” said Bedford/Lenox coach Derek Weller. “He’s one of those kids, he works his butt off year-round. He never quits. He works hard every day in practice. He’s very dedicated to the sport. He knows what he’s doing.”

Nate Briggs at 132 and Drew Venteicher at 138 each placed third. Dylan Heideman was fourth at 126, Colby Lange was fourth at 145, Derek Venteicher was fourth at 170, Cody Sleep was fourth at 195. Brenden Christensen was fifth at 182.

Southwest Valley placed ninth as a team. The Timberwolves were led by a second-place finish by Teagan Lindquist at 126 and Logan Calkins at 152.

Nodaway Valley tied for 13th with 48 points. Austin Wilson led the way with at fourth-place finish at 138.

UP NEXT — East Union travels to Greenfield Thursday for a Pride of Iowa Conference double dual with Mount Ayr and the Wolverines Thursday.

It then hosts the Pride of Iowa Conference Tournament Saturday.

Staver and the Eagles are excited about testing themselves against the best of the Pride of Iowa.

“We have a real shot,” Staver said. “Pleasantville will be a big challenge. Interstate 35 and Southeast Warren will challenge us.

“We’ve got to show up to wrestle, battle for bonus points. We can’t be satisfied with a decision. We have to go for a pin, tech fall or major. We have to score bonus points if we expect to have a shot at the team title.”

Bedford/Lenox is at the Pride of Iowa Conference Tournament Saturday.

“It will be exciting,” Weller said. “It’s always good to get the conference together, let boys go at it, see who comes out on top.”

Southwest Valley is at Interstate 35 Thursday for a double dual with the Roadrunners and Pleasantville, and then are at the Pride of Iowa Conference Tourney.

Nodaway Valley hosts Mount Ayr and East Union in a Pride of Iowa Conference double dual Thursday in Greenfield and at the Pride of Iowa Conference Tournament.

Final team standings

1. East Union 195.5; 2. Southeast Warren 185; 3. Lathrop (Mo.) 168; 4. Bedford/Lenox 168; 5. Clarinda 111; 6. Audubon 98; 7. Treynor 93; 8. South Harrison (Mo.) 86. 9. Southwest Valley 75. 10. Maryville (Mo.) 69; 11. Southwest Iowa 65; 12. Creston/O-M JV 54. 13. Clarinda Academy 48. 13. Nodaway Valley 48.

Championship matches

106 — Andrew Beane (LAT) pinned Cole Wimber (EU), :50.

113 — Tanner Dalinghaus (LAT) pinned Levi Parrott (EU) 1:18; 5. Nick Bartles (NV) won by forfeit over Hunter Fry (C/O-M JV).

120 — Jared Hensley (BL) maj. dec. Bryce Hall (SEW) 12-0.

126 — Brady Kyner (SEW) maj. dec. Teagan Lundquist (SWV) 11-1. 3. Dalton Rose (CA) pinned Dylan Heideman (BL) :40.

132 — Blake Bauer (SEW) dec. Austin Gutknecht (Clar) 1-0. 3. Nate Briggs (BL) pinned Alex Gaye (CA) 3:01.

138 — Memphis Ripperger (EU) pinned Chase Reber (T) 4:41; 3. Drew Venteicher (BL) pinned Austin Wilson (NV) 15-0, 4:51.

145 —Dakota Foster (Clar.) dec. Matthew Wittstock (EU) 4-2. 3. Tyler Paul (LAT) dec. Colby Lange (BL) 8-2; 5. Tristan Travis (C/O-M JV) pinned Brody Erlandson (NV) 1:55.

152 — Alec Henderson (SEW) pinned Logan Calkins (SWV) 5:12.

160 — Justin Wright (LAT) pinned Gavin Johns (SH) 3:00. 3. Nolan Smith (A) pinned Jacob Walter (EU) 2:48. 5. Evan Skelton (SWV) pinned Trevor Flettre (NV) 1:00.

170 — Mason Doll (SH) pinned T.J. Dierking (SEW) 5:17. 3. Dustin Andreasen (A) pinned Derek Venteicher (BL) 1:33. 5. Sanden Cheers (EU) pinned Merik Gaule (SWV) 4:47.

182 — Sam Gregory (T) pinned Matthew Twaddle (Mary) 5:42; 3. Beau Boswell (EU) pinned Wyatt Starmer (SH) :52. 5. Brenden Christensen (BL) pinned Luke Mosinski (A) 4:51.

195 — Alex Hommer (SEW) maj. dec. Trevor Kinyon (C/O-M JV) 9-1. 3. Luke Douglas (LAT) pinned Cody Sleep (BL) 1:01. 5. Bryson Rhamy (SWV) pinned Mark Zahnd (Mary) 2:46.

220 — Elijah Williams (SEW) pinned Dylan Obermeier (A) 3:04. 3. Kessler Tomas (EU) pinned Quinton Wolfe (LAT) :48.

285 — Chance Strough (Clar) dec. Lane Ripperger (EU) 6-2. 5. Blake Sevier (C/O-M JV) pinned Isaiah Taylor (A) 1:13.