Chiri coach, Lopez captain of Union wrestling team

It was yet another stellar year for Union Area wrestling, which means it’s time another All-Union wrestling team. The All-Union team is an collection of the areas top wrestlers at each of the weight classes, with exceptions coming at 132 and 220 this season.

New London show once again that they are a staple of Southeast Iowa Wrestling. The Tigers lead the list with three wrestlers earning the distinction. That includes the head coach, and captain.

Listed below are the full selections for the 2021-22 All Union wrestling teams.

Coach: Mark Chiri, New London

It was yet another banner year for the New London wrestling program, as Chiri’s squad was once again one of the toughest teams in Southeast Iowa.

Chiri coached four wrestlers to the state meet this year. The Tigers landed three in the Top-4, and one state champion, the best showing of any Union area team.

106: Aaron Boone, freshman, Washington

Washington’s freshman sensation put together a stellar first high school wrestling season. The Demon’s young star lost just two matches all season long. With the final coming at districts.

Boone moved up to 113 following the regular season and found himself in a stacked 113 weight class during districts. He ended with a third-place finish and with a record of 44-2.

113: Easton Schlabaugh, junior, Highland

Easton Schlabaugh had another great wrestling season, finding himself at the state tournament. Schlabaugh earned his place in Des Moines after dominating the 113 pound district meet, finishing first overall.

In the state tournament, he would finish with a 1-2 record. He started out on the right foot grabbing a quick fall victory in his opening match, but would lose two heartbreakers in the next two. Schlabaugh is sure to show out in his senior season.

120: Lane Scorpil, senior, Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union

Lane Scorpil has been one of the top wrestlers in the area for four straight years now. This season he did not disappoint once again. The 120 pound senior posted a 42-0 record all the way to the state tournament after steam rolling the competition through sectional and districts.

Scorpil had hopes of a state title, but after handily winning his first two matches, he fell to Greene County’s Kale Peterson by decision, 10-3. He was able to win his consolation semifinal match 4-2, but lost in the third place match by fall in 1:23 seconds.

126: Marcel Lopez, senior, New London (Captain)

What hasn’t New London senior Marcel Lopez done? The Tiger finishes his high school career with a fourth consecutive state title, the No. 30 wrestler all time to accomplish the feat in the state of Iowa.

With a record of 55-0, Lopez had no problem for most of the year, defeating most of his opponents by tech fall. He swept through sectionals and districts finishing first overall.

At state, he continued to show off his talent. Lopez was victorious in his first match by fall in 1:06 seconds. He won by tech fall, 20-5, in his second match. Then he defeated a familiar foe, Lisbon’s Quincy Happel by decision 5-1. To hoist the state title, Lopez defeated Jace Rose of Riverside by decision 5-3.

132: Cason Miller, freshman, Fairfield

Miller couldn’t have asked for a better start to his high school wrestling career. The 132 pound freshman punched his ticket to state after finishing second at districts, despite wrestling through a shoulder injury.

At state he finished with an 0-2 record after getting pinned in the first round and losing a tight knit contest in the second by 3-2 decision. It’s sure to be the start of a bright future for Miller. His end of the season record was 24-4.

132: Carlos Valenzuela, junior, Highland

Another Highland junior to show out on the mat was Valenzuela. He earned a trip to state after posting a 33-12 record throughout the regular season and earning a second-place finish at districts.

In Des Moines, Valenzuela finished with a 0-2 record. Falling by pin in his first match and by a hard fought sudden victory in the second.

145: Louden Huisenga, freshman, WACO

Yet another freshman on the list is WACO’s Louden Huisenga. Huisenga showed out in his first high school wrestling season finishing first at districts and earning a ticket to Wells Fargo.

At state, Huisenga won his first match by decision 4-3, but fell in his next two, a close five minute sixteen second fall and a 9-2 decision. The stage is set for Huisenga to have an outstanding career. Huisenga ended with a 41-7 record.

152: Dominic Lopez, junior, New London

Much like his brother, Dominic Lopez had little problems for most of the season, picking up tech fall after tech fall.

With an undefeated season throughout the regular season and both the sectional and district round, Lopez found himself in position to win a state championship after coming up short the year before.

He prevailed in every match, but one. Lopez won his first two matches by major decision, 21-8 and 20-11. He then lost a gut wrenching match to Gabe McGeough of MFL MarMac, by 4-3 decision.

En rout to a third-place finish, Lopez had no issues, winning by major decision in the consolation semifinals and by fall in 3:03 in the third place match. He finished with a record of 55-1.

160: Cade Molyneaux, senior, Sigourney-Keota

It was another eventful year for Cade Molyneaux. The senior made another trip back to the state tournament after placing first at districts.

In the state tournament, Molyneaux finished sixth. He won his first match by 5-3 decision, but lost his second by a slim 3-2 decision. He would bounce back in the consolation round two and three with back to back victories, 7-2 and 3-2 decisions. He fell in his final two matches, which were a 10-1 major decision in the consolation semifinals and a 9-6 decision in the fifth place match.

182: Josh Glendening, junior, New London

Glendening had a brilliant regular season and post season. Heading into the state tournament, Glendening had posted a 45-6 record, along with the district title.

Much like Lopez, he would have a similar fate. The junior Tiger wrestled for just over two minutes in his first two contests, after pinning his opening round and quarterfinal opponent. In the semifinals, a heartbreaking late takedown from Westwood’s Jackson Dewald would knock him off.

He would wrestled back in the consolation bracket, winning by decision, 6-3, in the first match, but would later fall in the third place bout by fall to finish fourth on the podium.

195: Teddy Metcalf, senior, Fairfield

Metcalf put together a great final senior for the Trojans. He proved himself a leader of the Trojan’s squad time and time again.

His season was ended in sectionals as he nearly missed a trip to districts after finishing third. He finished his high school career with a record of 25-8.

220: Jonah Clark, senior, WACO

WACO’s Jonah Clark had a dominating senior season. The Warriors 220 pound wasn’t sure if he was even going to wrestle at one point in time, but it’s good that he did. Clark cruised through the regular season and to first place finishes at sectionals and districts.

At state he continued to show dominance with three straight victories, a 3:18 fall, 1:02 fall, and a 6-3 decision en route to a state finals appearance. Clark however would come just short of being crowned state champion as he fell 8-1 to Don Bosco’s Jared Thiry. He finished his season with a 47-2 record.

220: Colley Billingsly, junior, Washington

Billingsly put together a well round junior campaign. He ran through sectionals and earned a spot at districts, coming away with a first place finish after being down handily in his 220 finals match.

It was a tough ending for Billingsly though as he missed out on a trip to state with a fourth-place finish at districts, finishing the season with a 34-13 record.

285: Gannon Callahan, senior, Mid-Prairie

Gannon Callahan put together solid final season for the Golden Hawks. Callahan found himself at the state tournament after placing second overall at districts.

He finished 1-2 at the state tournament. Callahan won his first match by decision 5-2, but would lose the next two, a 1:29 fall and a 3-0 decision. He ends his high school career with a 24-5 record.