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LENOX – The Pride of Iowa Wrestling Championships Saturday in Lenox saw a number of area grapplers head home with conference titles.
Host Bedford/Lenox grabbed two titles from 160-pound junior Drew Venteicher and heavyweight freshman Devin Whipple.
Venteicher picked up his second POI title in three seasons, defeating Wayne’s Hunter Cobb by a 10-4 decision. Wayne went on to win the POI team title.
“It feels pretty good, but its not what I want quite yet,” said Venteicher, who stated his eyes are squarely focused on the state tournament. “I got a lot of time left. I just have to take it one day at a time.”
Venteicher, who has already received 13 stitches on two different cuts this season, was forced to wrestle his way through the bracket in a mask, something he is hoping to discard as soon as possible.
“It’s awful, can’t see very well. Can’t breathe,” joked Venteicher.
Whipple was proud of his performance in his first POI championship and did so with two first period pins against Treyton Topp of Southwest Valley in the semifinals before pinning Alan Allsup of Martensdale-St. Marys.
“It means a lot just coming in as a freshman and getting a win,” said Whipple. “I knew I had a chance, but didn’t expect it to be quite that fast, but I knew I had a chance.”
Whipple reiterated the same goal as his teammate, stating that making the state tournament is the next goal for his season.
Bedford/Lenox’s Chance Strough took second after falling by sudden victory in the 220-pound finals. Conner Fitzgerald also grabbed fourth for the Tigers.
NV grabs three titles
A Nodaway Valley wrestling team that continues to see its efforts pay off, left Lenox with two individual titles and took fourth in the POI team standings.
Elliot Cooney continued his undefeated start to the season with two wins, both of which coming by way of the pin.
Cooney now sits at 18-0 on the year, noting that his wrestling experience dates much farther back than this season.
“I knew I had a lot of experience. I’ve been doing it since I’ve been able to wrestle,” said Cooney. “It’s pretty amazing, something I’ve always wanted to do – be good at tournaments.”
The 106-pounder wants to continue working on his technique this season while hoping to get to state and eyeing the Wolverines’ single-season win record of 47.
Trevor Flettre also picked up a first-place medal at 170 pounds with a win by pin in the semifinals and a 10-5 decision win in the finals.
Mount Ayr, Southwest Valley and East Union with good days
Bryce Shaha took to the top of the podium Saturday after winning the 113-pound POI title, his second conference championship.
With just three wrestlers at 113, Shaha only wrestled once in the finals, but had hoped to potentially get an opening round match before the finals.
“Actually the coaches were trying to get me the second seed so I could get a match in. I would have rather had a match,” said Shaha. “I’ve been trying to get better on my feet this year and be more aggressive offensively.”
Trae Ehlen and Jarrett Webb took home second place at 126 and 106 pounds, respectively.
East Union’s Sherman Hayes kept his undefeated season alive with two pins and a major decision win in the 145-pound weight class to take home the POI crown and a 17-0 record.
Cole Wimber grabbed second for the Eagles at 113 pounds while Brant Looney also took second at 182 pounds, falling to Central Decatur’s Tegan Carson.
Southwest Valley’s Teagan Lundquist had a tough task in the finals, taking on the No. 2 wrestler at 138 pounds in Martensdale-St. Marys Josh Tibbits.
Lundquist lost by major decision, grabbing second in his weight class.
Bryson Rhamy picked up third place at 220 pounds with an 11-10 decision over East Union’s Spencer Buban and Timberwolves’ Kale Haffner solidified fourth.
“He (Lundquist) got caught up early, ... but I think he rebounded and did OK,” said SWV head coach Cody Konecne. “Our young kids, especially Kale Haffner, ... he’s still been putting on a pretty good show. Bryson has been grinding out, ... wrestles hard, fought until the end matches.”
POI Championship results
Team standings – 1. Wayne 161; 2. Southeast Warren/Melcher-Dallas 133; 3. Martensdale-St. Marys 127.5; 4. Nodaway Valley 114.5; 5. Central Decatur 110; 6. Mount Ayr 91; 7. Bedford/Lenox 85.5; 8. East Union 84; 9. Southwest Valley 57.
106 – 1st place match: Elliot Cooney (NV) pinned Jarrett Webb (MA) 2:29.
113 – 1st place match: Bryce Shaha (MA) dec. Cole Wimber (EU) 6-0; 3rd place match: Ben Breheny (NV) bye.
120 – 1st place match: Randy Jimenez (SEW/MD) dec. Jakson Cobb (Wayne) 6-1; 3rd place match: Cael Cassady (MSM) pinned Conner Fitzgerald (B/L) 2:15; 5th place match: Jaxon Christensen (NV) tech fall Payton Fleharty (MA) 16-1, 6:00.
126 – 1st place match: Cole Cassady (MSM) dec. Trae Ehlen (MA) 4-3; 3rd place match: Logan Jones (CD) dec. Jarryn Stephens (EU) 12-9. 5th place match: Jordan Brewer (NV) bye.
132 – 1st place match: Dominic DiCesare (MSM) pinned Tay VanDyne (Wayne) 1:49; 3rd place match: Caelen DeVault (NV) pinned Quentin Gregg (MA) 5:46; 5th place match: Talon Reidel (B/L) bye,
138 – 1st place match: Josh Tibbits (MSM) maj. dec. Teagan Lundquist (SWV) 12-4; 5th place match: Bo Schneider (SEW/MD) dec. Brandon Lane (MA) 12-7.
145 – 1st place match: Sherman Hayes (EU) maj. dec. Elliot Ness (CD) 11-1; 5th place match: Trey Hill (B/L) pinned Jayden Hafferty (Wayne) 1:53.
152 – 1st place match: Hunter Clark (Wayne) dec. Austin Wilson (NV) 10-9; 5th place match: Keaton White (MA) pinned Mateo Negro (MSM) 1:55.
160 – 1st place match: Drew Venteicher (B/L) dec. Hunter Cobb (Wayne) 10-4; Robbie Criswell (MSM) pinned Steve Rodriguez (SWV) 3:52.
170 – 1st place match: Trevor Flettre (NV) dec. Brady Langloss (MSM) 10-5; 3rd place match: Seth Chumbley (SEW/MD) pinned Andi Gonzalez (MA) 1:27.
182 – 1st place match: Tegan Carson (CD) dec. Brant Looney (EU) 6-1; 3rd place match:Dakota Zinnel (Wayne) pinned Kale Haffner (SWV) 1:26; 5th place match – Joel Blazek (NV) bye.
195 – 1st place match: Bryce Vanderlune (SEW/MD) dec. Logan Smith (Wayne) 1-0; 3rd place match: Jeffrey Ressler (NV) bye.
220 – 1st place match: Alex Hommer (SEW/MD) SV-1 Chance Strough (B/L) 4-2; 3rd place match: Bryson Rhamy (SWV) dec. Spencer Buban (EU) 11-10; 5th place match: Brady Reese (EU) pinned Tyler Noga (MSM) 0:30.
285 – 1st place match: Devin Whipple (B/L) pinned Alan Allsup (MSM) 1:12; 3rd place match: Trenton Topp (SWV) bye.