HLV’s Fontinel wins Wapsi Valley tournament

FAIRBANK -- Heavyweight Cole Fontinel took his place at the top of the podium for HLV at the Wapsie Valley Chris Davis Invitational over the weekend.

Fontinel took three straight wins – an 8-1 decision, a 0:36 fall and a 12-3 major - to claim the first place medal.

Bryer Jack recorded two falls on his way to a third-place finish at 106. Landyn Ankrum competed to a sixth-place finish.

Brody Sternhagen notched a couple of pinfalls that landed him a fifth-place finish. Cael Weisskopf finished fourth in a round robin bracket. Max Henstorf picked up a pin and a fourth-place spot.

HLV ended the day in fifth place in the 10 team tourney.

Earlier this season Warrior grapplers headed to North English for a trio of conference duals.

First up was Iowa Valley where HLV won two of six matches and fell 54-18, factoring in forfeits.

Sternhagen, at 150, and Fontinel, at 285, both notched falls in 1:35 and 0:32 respectively.

English Valleys-Tri County won a tight match over the Warriors on criteria, 37-36. All contested matches were decided by fall, with HLV’s 144 pounder Ankrum getting things going with a 5:22 pin.

Sternhagen got pin number two on the night in 1:13. Henstorf won at 165 in 1:59. Jack, at 106, rounded out the scoring for the Warriors with a fall in 4:39.

In total, HLV won four matches by fall and two by forfeit. EVTC won one match by fall and five by forfeit.

For the second time of the night, HLV fell by one criteria point 37-36, but this time to BGM. The Warriors were led in this match by falls from Sternhagen, his third; Weisskopf, at 157; Fontinel; and Jack, who bumped up to 113.

BGM won one contested match by fall.

Girls Basketball

The Warrior girls basketball team notched two victories in two days to start their 2023-2024 campaign before dropping a game at the end of the week.

On Nov. 27, HLV beat English Valleys 45-40. The following day took them to Colfax-Mingo and a dominate 72-7 win.

Friday the tables turned a little as Lynnville-Sully held HLV to 19 points and a 52-19 loss.

English Valleys took a five-point lead into halftime, but whatever was said in the HLV locker room over the break inspired the Warriors to an 18-point third quarter and an eventual 5-point win.

This was a tight statistical game on both sides. The only clear advantage for either team was HLV’s 54% to 30% free throw margin.

Aaliyah Cooper dropped in 12 points and had five steals while McKenzie Kempf pulled down 15 boards to lead the Warriors.

HLV jumped out to a 22-2 first quarter lead against the over-matched Colfax squad. The Warrior’s scoring really never let up from there, making the final margin of victory 65 points.

Colfax committed 42 turnovers. Everyone on the roster put up stats in this contest.

Lynnville-Sully had a 32-1 record over HLV dating back to 2008. On Friday, the Hawks turned a 34-9 halftime lead into a 33-point victory over the Warriors. Statistics for this match were not available at press time.

Boys Basketball

The Warrior boys open the season with a 51-25 win over conference foe English Valleys Nov. 27. HLV started both halves on fire taking a 15-point lead in the first quarter and then “won” the third quarter by 10.

Peyton Roth dumped in 21 points and had six steals to lead the Warriors.

A matchup with Colfax-Mingo the following Tuesday did not end up the same way. The Tigerhawks took a three-point game at the end of three quarters and pulled away in the fourth to seal a 47-49 win.

HLV shot 27% from the field and went 5-of-25 on three-point attempts. Colfax pulled down 15 offensive boards. Roth again led with 21 points followed by Ethan Licht’s 16.

Friday brought a match-up with the Lynnville-Sully Hawks. This one was never really close.

The Hawks built on a 20-point half time lead to win by 28. HLV shot just 23% from the field and committed 16 turnovers.

Roth had 17 points and five steals. Julian Martinez and Boston York both had seven rebounds for the Warriors.