September 28, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Creston taken down by Atlantic/CAM in regional duals

By JARED LARSON

Atlantic/CAM's Nathan Keiser works from the top against Creston's Quinten Fuller. Fuller lost by a 9-5 decision in the 220 weight class during Tuesday's regional dual. (JARED LARSON)

Creston’s regional dual in which the Panthers lost 29-26 Atlantic/CAM Tuesday night started out like a nightmare.

The dual opened at 170 where Kaden Street fell to John J. Harris winner Kadin Stutzman by a 12-3 major decision.

The next five Panther wrestlers Ty Morrison, Jagger Luther, Quinten Fuller, Max Chapman and Justin Parsons each showed grit in their respective bouts but each fell by decision which put Creston in an early 19-0 hole.

“I told our kids after the dual nobody hang their head, I thought for the most part every kid fought really hard tonight and it just didn’t go our way,” Creston head coach Cody Downing said. “We lost a couple of matches we shouldn’t have but I thought we picked up bonus points in the matches I didn’t think we would.”

Momentum, if it were akin to a pendulum, started to swing away from the white singlets of Atlantic/CAM and towards the gold singlets of Creston.

Christian Ahrens pinned Josh Hass in 90 seconds and Lincoln Keeler decided to speed run Ahrens’ time when he pinned Cruz Weaver in :55.

Brandon Briley and Trey Chesnut each fell by a respective 9-3 decision, but an 18-2 technical fall victory by Austin Evans and a 5-1 decision by Triston Barncastle brought the dual score to 25-20 in favor of the Trojans.

“Really, I don’t even know how we had a chance there at the end,” Downing said. “I’ll give our kids credit, the momentum started out terribly, we were able to get it going our way.”

Briley Hayes’ major decision loss to Brian South, who had two near falls late in the third period, sealed Creston’s fate.

Will Bolinger pinned his opponent in 4:51 which finalized the dual.

“Hats off to Atlantic,” Downing said. “Great team, great program and hopefully they represent our area.”

Grapplers Christian Ahrens (113 pounds), Lincoln Keeler (120), Trey Chesnut (132), Austin Evans (138), Triston Barncastle (145), Briley Hayes (152), Will Bolinger (160), Kaden Street (170), Jagger Luther (195) and Quinten Fuller (285) will represent Creston at the Class 2A district tournament in Glenwood on Saturday.

“Our focus needs to go to Saturday now, we’ll get back to work and get as many kids through to state as possible,” Downing said. “From what I can tell, our fight and stuff we’ll be right there Saturday and head to Des Moines.”

Atlantic/CAM 29, Creston 26

170: Kadin Stutzman (ATLA) over Kaden Street (CRTN) (MD 12-3) 182: Jarrett Armstrong (ATLA) over Ty Morrison (CRTN) (Dec 5-0) 195: Brenden Casey (ATLA) over Jagger Luther (CRTN) (Dec 2-0) 220: Nathan Keiser (ATLA) over Quinten Fuller (CRTN) (Dec 9-5) 285: Miles Mundorf (ATLA) over Max Chapman (CRTN) (Dec 6-3) 106: Aiden Smith (ATLA) over Justin Parsons (CRTN) (Dec 9-2) 113: Christian Ahrens (CRTN) over Josh Hass (ATLA) (Fall 1:30) 120: Lincoln Keeler (CRTN) over Cruz Weaver (ATLA) (Fall 0:55) 126: Ethan Follmann (ATLA) over Brandon Briley (CRTN) (Dec 9-3) 132: Easton O`Brien (ATLA) over Trey Chesnut (CRTN) (Dec 9-3) 138: Austin Evans (CRTN) over Dante Hedrington (ATLA) (TF 18-2 5:26) 145: Triston Barncastle (CRTN) over Tanner O`Brien (ATLA) (Dec 5-1) 152: Brian South (ATLA) over Briley Hayes (CRTN) (MD 11-3) 160: William Bolinger (CRTN) over Owen Hoover (ATLA) (Fall 4:51)