Panther wrestlers win tournament

FAIRFIELD ? A pair of first-place finishes ? one from its lightweight and one from its heavyweight ? led the Mt. Pleasant wrestling team to the tournament title at the Southern Iowa Classic on Saturday.

Colton Mertens (106 pounds) and Emmett Wester (285 pounds) each won his weight class at the Fairfield tournament.

Mertens went 3-0 on the day, winning by major decision over Gage Hawkins of Keokuk (11-1) and Michael Witt of Washington (16-5), and he pinned Centerville?s Zach Bogle in 4:46.

Wester pinned all three of his opponents on the day: Jacob Cohen of Chariton (0:53), Brennan Gully of Ft. Madison (3:04) and Kevin Childs of Ottumwa (3:18).

The Panthers had eight other wrestlers finish in the top six at the tournament.

Colton Aplara (195) was 2-1 on the day to finish second, and Justin Dilks went 2-1 at 182 pounds, also taking the runner-up spot.

Three Panthers finished fourth: Conner Eads (113) went 2-2; Tyler Lanphier (120) was 3-2; and Jayton Phillips (170) was 2-2.

Both Josh Larson and Michael Alderson took fifth place in their weight classes. Larson (145) went 3-2 at the tournament and Alderson (152) was also 3-2.

Alex Lanphier (126) finished with a record of 1-3 to take sixth place.

As a team, the Panthers had 163 points, good enough to win the tournament.

They defeated Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, 156.5; Albia, 147.5; Ottumwa, 126.5; Ft. Madison, 126; Washington, 124.5; Fairfield, 117; Centerville, 93.5; Chariton, 89; Keokuk, 81.5; and Clarke, 21.5.

The Panthers wrestle Thursday at Marion against Marion and Pleasant Valley, starting at 6 p.m.