Iowa Valley's Nolan Kriegel takes down Sigourney-Keota's Nash Baker in a 190-pound semifinal match at the South Iowa Cedar League boys wrestling tournament Saturday, Jan. 31 in Marengo. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

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MARENGO — It all came down to one final match, with a South Iowa Cedar League team title on the line.

Iowa Valley’s Nolan Kriegel delivered in the moment and sealed the Tigers’ third straight conference title with a fall over North Mahaska’s Chance Angle in the 190-pound final Saturday at the SICL Tournament.

Iowa Valley and North Mahaska were neck-and-neck all day in the team race and, as Kriegel’s match approached, it certainly seemed it would come down to him.

“I just had to trust my training all week,” Kriegel said. “My Dad came up to me before and just told me to stay relaxed and wrestle your match.”

Kriegel executed, getting a fall right at the end of the first period.

“I knew when I got that wing threaded I am pretty good in that position,” Kriegel said. “I saw there was just a short time left in the period so I went and ran with it.”

The two teams were separated by just a point in the winner-take-all match.

Iowa Valley's Mason Hoyt locks the head of Sigourney-Keota's Ayden Parker in a 175-pound quarterfinal match at the South Iowa Cedar League boys wrestling tournament Saturday, Jan. 31 in Marengo. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

What set up the winning pin was Mason Hoyt getting a 17-2 tech fall win at 175 over North Mahaska’s Max Reed the match prior.

Add in a title from Gabe Olson at 113 and some key consolation points that also helped set up the match for Kriegel.

“It’s pretty special and shows a lot about our team,“ Kriegel said on the conference title. ”Everybody did their part, no matter if it was fifth or first. The consolation points were huge.“

The Tigers will now look to carry the momentum into Regional Duals Tuesday and Districts on Feb. 14.

“We just got to keep building the rest of the postseason,” Kriegel said. “We’re mentally ready, and I think we’re in a good spot as a team.”

Here are a few other area highlights from the meet.

Iowa Valley's Wade Sankot holds on to Sigourney-Keota's Luke Flynn in a 150-pound semifinal match at the South Iowa Cedar League boys wrestling tournament Saturday, Jan. 31 in Marengo. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current) — Belle Plaine’s Wade Sankot holds on to Sigourney-Keota's Luke Flynn in a 150-pound semifinal match at the South Iowa Cedar League boys wrestling tournament Saturday, Jan. 31 in Marengo. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Belle Plaine goes back-to-back

Belle Plaine totaled three finalists and won consecutive titles at 144 and 150.

Aidan Timm secured a cradle and locked the head and knee of BGM’s Hunter Hodina for a win by fall at 144.

In the most entertaining finals match, Wade Sankot picked up a huge win over Iowa Valley’s Chance Hoyt, who Sankot lost to twice already this season.

Sankot led 7-1 after two periods before a wild third period, which included a long break in action to work through an unsportsmanlike call from the officials.

Both were able to catch their breath before a chaotic final minute.

Hoyt stayed on the attack and picked up two takedowns to make the score 8-7.

Sankot capitalized with one final move and got the takedown plus four nearfall points for the 16-7 major decision.

“He was leaning forward and going at me, so once I got him in that whizzer I was able to flip him over,” Sankot said.

The match gives Sankot more confidence as the Plainsmen head into Districts in two weeks.

“It was probably one of the better matches I’ve wrestled this season, so it definitely brings me some more confidence,” Sankot said.

HLV-TC's Cael Weisskopf takes down Lynnville-Sully's Asher Schechinger in a 157-pound quarterfinal match at the South Iowa Cedar League boys wrestling tournament Saturday, Jan. 31 in Marengo. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Weisskopf, Plants continue impressive seasons

Both HLV-TC’s Cael Weisskopf and Montezuma’s Braxton Plants headed into Saturday with one loss, and they ended the day that way as both rolled to titles at their weight classes.

Weisskopf, at 157, won by tech fall, fall and major decision, controlling each match from start to finish. Being aggressive while not giving up points is a challenge.

“I would say my conditioning and being comfortable being tired,” Weisskopf said of his wrestling style. “Everyone wants to come with the best gas tank in the gym on Saturdays, but it starts each Monday morning when no one wants to wake up.”

This was Weisskopf’s first conference title. He finished runner-up and third in the previous two years.

“It feels great, knowing all the work leading up to this and the progress seen through the season,” Weisskopf said.

The Warriors’ junior will head into Districts with a 37-1 record.

“We’re going to hit it hard this next week and then next week just prepare and keep my weight under control,” Weisskopf said.

Plants, at 215, won all three of his matches by fall in the first period.

The Montezuma senior moved to an impressive 50-1 and is ranked second in 1A heading into Districts.

Montezuma's Braxton Plants battles for position with English Valleys' Kaleb Bolinger in a 215-pound semifinal match at the South Iowa Cedar League boys wrestling tournament Saturday, Jan. 31 in Marengo. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Other Area Finalists

BGM produced three finalists in the Bears sixth-place team finish — Hunter Hodina (144), Brock York (157) and Reed Slater (215).

Montezuma’s other two finalists were Karson Ross (106) and Wesley Ross (126).

Iowa Valley’s fifth and final finalist was Carter Koenig at 120.

BGM's Brock York, bottom, wrestles Iowa Valley's Tyson Kriegel in a 157-pound quarterfinal match at the South Iowa Cedar League boys wrestling tournament Saturday, Jan. 31 in Marengo. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Team Scores

1. Iowa Valley 178, 2. North Mahaska 171, 3. Montezuma 124, 4. Sigourney-Keota 122.5, 5. Belle Plaine 108, 6. BGM 107.5, 7. Colfax-Mingo 80, 8. Lynnville-Sully 68, 9. HLV-TC 52.5, 10. English Valleys 51