Christensen, DeVault finish senior seasons at state wrestling

DES MOINES — Taking back-to-back losses during Thursday’s portion of the state wrestling tournament, Nodaway Valley/O-M wrestlers Jaxon Christensen and Caelen DeVault bowed out of the tournament, seeing fine senior seasons and careers come to a curtain call.

“This is the whole goal, to get here. In our opinion, that’s the hard part, to get here. Once you get here you do what you can,” said Wolverine co-head coach Kolby Baier. “It didn’t work out for a couple of guys [but getting here] is what it’s all about.”

Central Springs senior Clayton McDonough (52-0) pinned Christensen (39-13) in 1:41 in their opening match. Christensen then met Interstate 35′s Ryan Steinlage, a wrestler he’s become very familiar with, in the first round of consolations.

Steinlage (36-6) was able to build a 6-1 lead and pinned Christensen in 3:39.

“That second match was the third time I had wrestled him this year. It was a tough match but I think I did the best I’ve done so far. I wish I could’ve won, but that’s how it went,” Christensen said. “What I’m going to remember most about wrestling was my teammates and how we pushed each other to get better, and it’s been great.”

DeVault (31-9), a Central Missouri football commit, was pinned by West Sioux, Hawarden senior Carson Lynott (12-0) in 14 seconds in his first bout. He fought well on the back side of the bracket, but ultimately lost to Lisbon senior Jamien Moore by 6-3 decision to end his state tournament experience.

DeVault said he was thankful that he was able to stay healthy enough to be wrestling at such a high level in the postseason after he didn’t have that chance in some of the previous seasons.

“I’m thankful I could be here and qualify for the state tournament but I’m not content with just being here. Coaches always preach that,” DeVault said. “That’s what’s driven us the last week or so. It’s an honor to be here but we don’t want to just be content with being here, we want to make a run for the top. Unfortunately a couple of those matches didn’t go my way today but I’m happy for the season I had. I couldn’t be more thankful to do it with the guys I love.”

Nodaway Valley/O-M co-head coach Brad Honnold said Christensen and DeVault, Elliot Cooney and Jevin Christensen were all key in how the Wolverines competed hard to be the best all winter.

“There’s a lot of pain in defeat. Every one of those four seniors bought into what we’ve preached all year. It stinks, to be honest with you, because I think Jaxon and Caelen are top-8, top-10 kids in the state. I feel they left it all out on the mat. They had some tough draws, but that’s the name of the game,” Honnold said. “They wrestled their tails off. It hurts right now but the sun will rise tomorrow, it’ll be a new day and they have bright futures ahead of them for all they do.”