New London wrestling highlights preseason rankings

The preseason rankings from iawrestle.com were released this week, and there is plenty of excitement for the Union coverage area. The area sports 10 ranked wrestlers, seven in Class 1A and seven in Class 2A.

New London leads the way with an impressive five ranked wrestlers heading into the new year. Defending state champion Marcel Lopez is the area's only No. 1 ranked wrestler, taking the top spot in Class 1A's 113 bs. rankings. He is joined by a quartet of New London seniors; Gabe Carter, Gavin Holmes, Cameron Raines and Jaxon Allen.

The Tigers are also the only ranked team in the area. New London is tabbed at No. 9 in all of Class 1A.

Highland and Sigourney-Keota both have one ranked wrestler in Class 1A. S-K senior Mason Dye is No. 5 at 120 lbs and Highland Junior Bryce Thompson is seventh in the 106 lbs. class,

In Class 2A, Columbus, Washington and Mid-Prairie each have one ranked wrestler. Mid-Prairie senior Isaac Boucher is the second-highest ranked wrestler in the Union area, coming in at No. 2 in the 195 lbs. class. Columbus sophomore Lane Scorpil is ninth at 106 lbs., and Washington senior Dillon Sanders is No. 10 at 145 lbs.

With Mt. Pleasant bumping down to Class 2A this year, the Union area doesn't have a team in Class 3A. Mt. Pleasant resident Blaine Frazier, a sophomore who wrestles for Notre Dame, is ranked No. 2 in the Class 3A 113 lbs. weight class.

Listed below are full team rankings from the three classes and a list of ranked area wrestlers. Note that iawrestle.com does not rank freshmen in its preseason list.

Class 1A

Team: 1. Don Bosco; 2. Lisbon; 3. Underwood; 4. Denver; 5. Hawarden West Sioux; 6. Logan-Magnolia 7. West Hancock; 8. Woodbury Central; 9. New London; 10. Eagle Grove

Union area ranked individuals: 106: 7. Bryce Thompson (11), Highland-Riverside. 113: 1. Marcel Lopez (10), New London. 120: 5. Mason Dye (12), Sigourney-Keota. 160: 6. Gabe Carter (12), New London. 182: 9. Gavin Holmes (12), New London. 195: 10. Cameron Raines (12), New London. 220: 8. Jaxon Allen (12), New London.

Class 2A

Team: 1. West Delaware; 2. Union, Laporte City; 3. Winterset; 4. Solon; 5. Osage; 6. Centerville; 7. Independence; 8. West Liberty; 9. Bondurant-Farrar; 10. Williamsburg

Union area ranked individuals: 106: 9. Lane Scorpil (10), Columbus Community. 145: 10. Dillon Sanders (12), Washington. 195: 2. Isaac Boucher (12), Mid-Prairie.

Class 3A

Team: 1. Southeast Polk; 2. Bettendort; 3. Ft. Dodge; 4. Iowa City West; 5. Waverly-Shell Rock; 6. Waukee; 7. Ankeny; 8. Mason City; 9. Ankeny Centennial; 10. Cedar Rapids Kennedy.