Class 1A wrestlers punch tickets to state

WAPELLO — The entire season for area wrestlers has culminated in this moment: a chance to go to the state tournament.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 12, Union area wrestlers knew their destination, home or Des Moines.

New London, Sigourney-Keota, WACO, and Highland wrestlers are all heading north.

New London had a successful outing, the Tigers brought five to compete and are sending four.

“With the exception of 195, we had a good day,” New London head coach Mark Chiri said. “I told my wife before I left that five through was an A+, four was a B+ and three would be a C-. Overall, we had a good day. You gotta show up. That’s the thing I like about this sport, is their not gonna just give it to you.”

The first Tiger to punch his ticket was freshman Gage Burden at 113. Burden didn’t have to wrestle back after falling in his first match and took second in a no contest over Skyler Beck of Louisa-Muscatine.

Marcel Lopez continues his journey to a fourth straight state title. Lopez defeated Joshua Osborn of Lisbon by a 5-0 decision to finish a top the podium at 126.

“It’s always gonna feel good,” Lopez said of heading back to state. “I got business to handle and once I get those matches out of the way I’ll be where I want to be. It will be more enjoyable after that, but I’m on a business mission starting today.”

Dominic Lopez had a dominant day, winning by tech fall in his first match and defeating Lisbon’s Lincoln Holub by major decision 14-4 to finish first at 152.

“I feel like I wrestled good, but job’s not done,” Lopez said. “I got bigger goals this season. It’s just one step closer. We’ll be back in the room tomorrow polishing the holes in my game, but job’s not finished.”

Josh Glendening, 182, was the final Tiger know his destination. Glendening made quick work of Regina’s Christopher Waikel with a 57 second fall to grab first.

“I’m getting better on things I need to work on,” Glendening said. “I’m moving my feet more, circling and not stopping. Feels good (to be heading to the tournament again), I hope to be in the finals and win it.”

Sigourney-Keota is sending three to the tournament.

Freshman Reanah Utterback dominated in the girls state tournament, and she’s doing it once again.

Utterback defeated Moravia’s Dalton Ervin 4-2 in sudden victory to finished first at 106.

“It feels good knowing I can compete with the boys,” Utterback said. “Being able to compete with both (girls and boys) feels great to know that I stand a chance. With being just a freshman and them sanctioning girls, this might be my only shot.”

At 160, Cade Molyneux is getting another shot in the tournament, this time one weight class down from last year.

Molyneux picked up a tight 8-6 sudden victory over Kendal Pugh of Louisa-Muscatine.

“I’m proud of the way I fought,” Molyneux said. “It feels good to be heading back up. I’m glad I got the district championship. That sets me up for success in the tournament. I just got to get back to work.”

Conner Reed was the final wrestler to make it, finishing second at 220. Reed did not have to wrestle back for second.

For the Warriors of WACO, Louden Huisenga and Jonah Clark are both through.

“I thought they wrestled really well,” WACO head coach Seth Pugh said. “We would have liked to have a few matches back from earlier in the day with Samo. Proud of the season he’s had. Louden at 145 is just tougher than nails. Jonah does what he always does, goes out there, he’s physical and he’s constantly moving.”

Huisenga grabbed a first place finish following a 4-1 decision victory over Indy Harbaugh of Lisbon.

“It feels real good to be heading to state,” Huisenga said. “It’s why I’ve worked all season and it’s finally paying off.”

Jonah Clark continues to show out at 220. Clark won by fall in each of his two matches on the day.

“I feel like I wrestled same as always really, pretty well,” Clark said. “I was a little less smart today. I got a little cocky, and I got to quit doing that. Hard work pays off. That’s a big lesson I learned this year.”

For Highland, Easton Schlabaugh and Carlos Valenzuela are both heading to Des Moines.

Schlabaugh won by tech fall, 16-0, in his first match, before defeating Burden of New London by fall.

“Feels pretty great to be going up there again,” Schlabaugh said. “I was out for a little while and to win districts is pretty good for being out.”

Valenzuela ended with a second-place finish after falling in the final, but did not have to wrestle back for second.

“I feel like I performed pretty well,” Valenzuela said. “I still got some things to sharpen up going into the state tournament. I’ll have to get some really good practices in.”

The Class 1A first round will begin on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.