Wolverines exercise ‘dominance’ at state wrestling

DES MOINES — Perhaps the most decorated wrestler in Nodaway Valley history capped off his high school career Saturday night by claiming his third-straight Class 1A state title.

Nodaway Valley senior Ashton Honnold made a dominating statement last week at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines, not only finishing with that third state title, but finishing with 203 career victories.

As a group, the Wolverines not only had Honnold’s state championship, junior Caleb Christensen made the finals and ended as runner-up, while senior Ty Strode and sophomore Josh Nelson were each sixth-place medalists.

Senior Keyin Steeve came away without a medal and his prep wrestling career also came to an end.

The Wolverines were fourth in the team standings.

Thrice as nice

Wrestling up a class this season for the first time at 285, Honnold won all 55 of his matches, ending with a pin over Earlham’s Keegan Long in the state championship in 55 seconds.

The two had recently met in the district final at Interstate 35 Saturday, Feb. 14, and Honnold won that match by 19-4 tech fall.

Hard work was the key to Ashton Honnold’s run, his dad and head coach, Brad Honnold, said.

“As a little kid, I grew up and the list of three-time state champions was small. I had dreamed myself of being on that list and lucky for me, Ashton loved it (wrestling) and we grew together. He did it,” the elder Honnold said. “Everything he has done has been from his hard work, his commitment and him wanting to be the best. To know that not only my son, but a Nodaway Valley wrestler, is on that three-time state champion list, that’s elite company to be in.”

Honnold’s win capped a spectacular week at the state meet for the Wolverines, who had five state qualifiers for the second straight season.

The Wolverines’ accomplishments included four state medals and two making the finals, with a state champion and a state runner-up. Three of the five qualifiers graduate this May while two will look to return, they hope with others.

“I was able to go out with a bang,” Ashton Honnold said. “The word dominance was big for me this year. I had only one match go six minutes this year and being dominant on the mat was a big goal of mine this year and I achieved it.”

The state finals was the fourth time Honnold had faced Long this season.

“He was a familiar foe, it was the fourth time we had met this year. He knew my moves, I knew his. I just went out and wrestled free and did what I did and got the pin at the end,” he said.

Honnold’s first two mathces were first-period pins. Honnold pinned Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center’s Jack Sheeder in 28 seconds in the first round for his 200th career victory, then Will Howes from MFL-MarMac in the quarterfinals in 1:44. Janesville’s Logan Lashbrook faced Honnold in the semifinals, losing a 19-4 tech fall to the takedown master.

Honnold was undefeated the last two seasons and his final record stands at 203-9. His win total ties with Ryan Parmely of Maquoketa Valley for 20th best all-time. He finishes 47th in the state all-time with 120 career pins.

Looking back, Honnold was 4-0 his junior season, defeating Maquoketa Valley’s Nathan Beitz 7-0 to win at 215 pounds. His sophomore season ended with a 6-4 sudden victory decision over Maquoketa Valley’s Brady Davis.

Two of his junior-year opponents won state titles this season: Carter Wright of Woodbury Central and Eaghan Fleshman of Alburnett.

Honnold was 2-3 in five matches his freshman season, placing eighth at 195 pounds.

Honnold’s future will take him to the University of Northern Iowa, where he’ll continue wrestling.

Nodaway Valley assistant coach Kolby Baier had the honor of giving Honnold his state medal this year. In 2024, head coach Brad Honnold had the honor and last year Ashton’s grandpa and assistant coach Paul Honnold did the honor.

After winning, Honnold put a black t-shirt on that read “Love big,” to honor a friend of his from Clarinda who passed away in the last year, as well as his grandmother Sherry Honnold, who passed away last April.

Christensen finishes dominant season with silver

Junior Caleb Christensen’s run at the finals of the 190-pound class was also one of the top storylines in Class 1A as he put himself on the wrestling map for current and future opponents to take note.

Christensen qualified for state last year but went 1-2 in three matches, going home without a medal. He nearly ran the table this year.

Christensen was the second seed at his weight. He pinned Jesup’s Drew Munson in 4:48 in the second round, after receiving a first-round bye, and won a 13-1 major decision over Karson Hoogendorn of Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley in the quarterfinals.

Christensen’s opponent, Keaton Moeller, appeared to possibly come in as a favorite because of the fact that he won a state championship his sophomore season, before he missed his junior season because of an injured knee.

Also a future UNI Panther, like Christensen’s teammate Honnold, Moeller was relentless in the title bout and wasn’t going to allow Christensen to get anything going offensively — Moeller won the match by 21-6 tech fall in 2:28.

“He won state his sophomore year and got third his freshman year. He was tough,” Christensen said. “It’s disappointing and this will sting for a long time. I am going to use this to get better and to get back on the podium next year and win a state title.”

The Wolverine junior reached the finals after winning a 7-0 decision over Nolan Kriegel of Iowa Valley, Marengo. In football, Kriegel led the state, regardless of class, in touchdowns, with 61 of them on more than 2,000 all-purpose yards, including 1,944 rushing yards.

At the Tri-Center Tournament right after Christmas, Christensen went over the 100 wins threshold. In the last two seasons, Christensen has amassed a staggering 97-14 record.

Christensen has centered his mind on improving his focus and discipline on and off the mat as he keeps transforming his body into a lean machine.

“The grind never stops. I lift all the time and am not satisfied with what I have. There is always a step forward. I won all these tournaments and then I got to state and got second. There is always someone working and a little better,” he said. “I want to be that guy who is outworking everyone. I probably will go back home and go to the gym tonight.”

Two others medal, two other careers end

The Wolverines had a duo of two other seniors who finished their careers at the state tournament. Both will continue their wrestling careers next year after graduating from Nodaway Valley.

enior 132-pounder Ty Strode lifts Underwood’s Ryan Fletcher from the mat during their bout at state.

Senior Ty Strode finished sixth at 132 and finished as a three-time state qualifier — twice at 120 pounds and once at 132. His last three seasons gave him a record of 112-33.

“It felt good to get the win by major decision over the kid that beat me on Thursday,” Strode said. “It was a good feeling to get those wins on the back side and get on the podium. It was a rough day the last day, but it’s all good. My dad (assistant coach Joe Strode) was in the coaching corner and it was awesome. He has been there my whole career.”

Strode lost in the second round to Ryan Fletcher from Underwood. Strode could have packed it in, but it’s as if he left his heart in Des Moines — he won four straight consolation matches, two by pins and two by major decision, to get a chance at third place.

Strode’s road ended there as he fell in a chance to wrestle for third and again in the fifth place match. His biggest highlight match he’ll take away was the one over Fletcher, by 16-8 major decision, that avenged that second-round loss and set him up to get his first state medal.

“It shows that if you work hard you can make things happen,” Strode said.

A tradition of Nodaway Valley state qualifiers is to bleach your hair. Strode did that, kind of. Instead of a full head of bleached hair like last year, he put a smiley face on the back of his head.

“I didn’t want a full bleach because prom is coming around and I didn’t like how it looked last year,” he said. “It was just a happy medium as the rest of the guys were bugging me to do what I did last year.”

Strode will continue his wrestling career next season at Northwestern College in Orange City.

Senior Keyin Steeve finished his career at the state tournament. That was an appropriate finish because he was a four-time state qualifier. Though he didn’t medal in any of the years he made it, he wrestled in eight state matches through his high school career at 113, 126 or 144. His prep career ends at 132-45, and he will continue wrestling next year at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake.

“It’s all about the path for me. It may not be my time now, but I have four more years to prove to myself and prove who I am and it is crazy,” Steeve said. “Six months ago if you would have told me I was going to wrestle in college I wouldn’t have believed you.”

Steeve’s state path this year included a loss in the first round to Chance Christensen of Riceville by major decision, then he lost in the consolations to Westyn Price of North Linn, 8-1.

Both of Steeve’s matches were physical, and he tried to dish that mentality right back to his opponents — especially in the Price match.

A thankful Steeve reflected on his state trip and career.

“I got so caught up in what I was going to do next year and it weighed on me. Coach White (BVU) reached out and offered me an opportunity of a lifetime and I took it. This state run is not the outcome I wanted, but I am thankful for my time here as a Wolverine,” Steeve said.

Steeve said that it is pretty cool but bittersweet that the three senior state qualifiers are done now. Matthew Nelson was the team’s fourth senior.

“We are sad we have to part ways, but we (Ashton, Ty and Me) get to keep wrestling and that is crazy. Three NV guys on college rosters next year,” he said.

Sophomore Josh Nelson qualified for the state meet for the second time in as many years at the 106. After not earning a spot on the podium last season, Nelson brought home sixth place this year. Nelson was 2-3 in five state matches a year after going 0-2 as a freshman. After getting a first-round bye, Nelson pinned Micah Skogen of Lake Mills in 1:21, then, in the quarterfinals, Cooper Sampson from North Mahaska in 3:07.

South Central Calhoun’s Karson Wuebker beat Nelson in the semifinals by tech fall. Trying for a berth in the third place match, Nelson came up short and went to the fifth place match, where he lost 12-4 to Southeast Warren/Melcher-Dallas’ Hudson Cox.

“It’s bittersweet,” Nelson said. “It was great to get the medal, but it is going to make me more hungry to get higher on the podium next year.”

Nelson said his longer stay this season at state will no doubt pay off as early as next season.

“I am going to learn from every match here. I will be ready for next year. I may be up a weight next year and that would be new. Being at the lighter weight is an advantage to get matches against kids my age and weight. This year flew by and the season was all great,” he said.

Nelson ended the year 43-10 and is 80-27 over the last two seasons.