CL grapplers face tough competition

The Clear Lake wrestling team had another very busy week with seven dual meets.  The Lions only won two of those meets, but the competition the  was very stiff.  Tuesday, Clear Lake defeated Denver, 42-22, and Ft. Dodge St. Ed’s, 73-6, but lost a close 39-36 battle to Charles City.  Senior T.J Hauser was having a good night Tuesday when he suffered a dislocated elbow and was forced to default, giving Charles City six team points and the win. The Lions were also without the services of Kyle Willms, who also has an elbow injury. 

On Thursday, the Lions traveled to Webster City.  Once again Clear Lake lost a heartbreaker, 33-30. Coach Gary Weber highlighted Ben Hillyer at 106-pounds, who had his opponent on his back the last :45 seconds trying to get the pin for the team. 

Saturday, Clear Lake traveled to Osage. All four teams participating were ranked in the top 10.  Kasson Mantorville, last year’s Minnesota state champions, was the cream of the crop, going 3-0 and beating the Lions, 50-17. Clear Lake won four big matches in that dual with Ryan Leisure, Ryan Schmalen, Brennen Doebel and Ryan Faught all being victorious. Doebel beat the third ranked wrestler in Minnesota in a thriller. 

The second meet of the day put Clear Lake against state rated Independence. Schmalen won against another state ranked wrestler, but was hurt halfway through the match.  He held on for the victory, but the team lost, 41-27. 

The third and final dual of the night was against arch rival Osage. The meet started at 145-pounds, where Brad Hillyer wrestled hard, but lost a close one, 8-6.  At 152, both wrestlers were ranked. Ryan Faught lost 8-6, but nearly had Thatcher Goodale taken down at the buzzer. 

“I really thought that was a good match for Ryan. He got down big early, but battled back and controlled the last half of the match and appeared to be in better shape,” said Coach Weber.  “These losses do not hurt us at all.  They actually  help us and show our staff how we can help our young men reach their goals.”

At 160, Kaleb Froiland lost by technical fall. 

“We really emphasize not getting pinned and Kaleb did not.  Effort is our number one criteria for a good match, and he had that,” said Weber.

At 170, Logan Wilcke won a close match. Rowdy Yates lost 7-0, but saved valuable team points.  Ace Walton got the team back in the match with a decision at 195. Nate Benson lost by fall at 220 and Kyle Willms wrestled a little banged up to help the team and gained a huge win at 285 to make the meet close. 

Osage forfeited the next two weights and the Lions were right back in the meet. 

Ryan Schmalen also wrestled with an injury and gave the Lions a chance to win with a major decision at 120.  The Lions had a four point lead heading into 126. Ryan Leisure won by major decision, giving Clear Lake an eight-point advantage with two matches left. 

“What I liked was Leisure asked if he could move up a weight and wrestle Brock Jennings, the number one ranked wrestler in the state,” explained Weber.  “We didn’t do it, but I love that attitude.”

Christano Gonzalez lost by technical fall at 132 and the Lions were clinging to a three-point lead. Spencer Orr had the unenviable task of wrestling Brady Jennings, the number one ranked wrestler at 138 pounds. Orr trailed 10-0 heading into the second period when Jennings chose the down position. Orr snapped a cradle on Jennings, taking him to his back. Jennings broke out of the cradle and pinned Orr, ending another thrilling Clear Lake/Osage dual.

Clear Lake (CLLA) 45 Denver-Tripoli (DETR) 22

285: Landen Dobbs (DETR) over Nathan Benson (CLLA) (Dec 8-2) 106: Blake Steege (DETR) over Ben Hillyer (CLLA) (Fall 0:00) 113: Brennen Doebel (CLLA) over Andrew  Busch (DETR) (MD 13-3) 120: Ryan Schmalen (CLLA) over Tevon Rettig (DETR) (Fall 0:00) 126: Ryan Leisure (CLLA) over Neal Finder (DETR) (Fall 4:00) 132: Christiano Gonzalez (CLLA) over Caleb Wilson (DETR) (MD 16-4) 138: Spencer Orr (CLLA) over Ryan Maitland (DETR) (Fall 0:00) 145: Ryan Faught (CLLA) over Jordan Habben (DETR) (Fall 2:00) 152: Creed Krueger (DETR) over Brad Hillyer (CLLA) (Dec 5-0) 160: TJ Hauser (CLLA) over Conner Vogt (DETR) (MD 14-5) 170: Logan Wilcke (CLLA) over   (DETR) (For.) 182: Brock  Sorensen (DETR) over Rowdy Yates (CLLA) (MD 9-0) 195: Izaak Shedenhelm (DETR) over   (CLLA) (For.) 220: Ace Walton (CLLA) over Dominick Klusman (DETR) (Dec 11-6) 

Charles City (CHCI) 39 Clear Lake (CLLA) 36

106: Ben Hillyer (CLLA) over   (CHCI) (For.) 113: Brennen Doebel (CLLA) over Theo Arndt (CHCI) (Fall 0:38) 120: Ryan Schmalen (CLLA) over Nate Lasher (CHCI) (Fall 1:49) 126: Ryan Leisure (CLLA) over Shau Landt (CHCI) (Fall 1:05) 132: Austin Staudt (CHCI) over Christiano Gonzalez (CLLA) (Fall 3:26) 138: Maxwell Forsyth (CHCI) over Spencer Orr (CLLA) (Fall 3:16) 145: Jake Niichel (CHCI) over Ryan Faught (CLLA) (Dec 3-2) 152: Brandon Childs (CHCI) over Kaleb Froiland (CLLA) (Fall 0:31) 160: Andrew Koresh (CHCI) over TJ Hauser (CLLA) (Inj. [time]) 170: Logan Wilcke (CLLA) over Nick Wegner (CHCI) (Fall 3:24) 182: Rowdy Yates (CLLA) over Alex Koehler (CHCI) (Fall 1:50) 195: Nick Jacobs (CHCI) over Ace Walton (CLLA) (Dec 3-1) 220: Aaron Maloy (CHCI) over   (CLLA) (For.) 285: Brody Tupy (CHCI) over Nathan Benson (CLLA) (Dec 4-0) 

Clear Lake vs. Webster City @ 

CL/WC Triangular on 01/15/2015.

Webster City (WECI) 33.00 

Clear Lake (CLLA) 30.00

113: Brennen Doebel (CLLA) over Carson Hartnett (WECI) (Fall 1:06) 120: Ryan Schmalen (CLLA) over Freddie Seeley (WECI) (MD 11-3) 126: Ryan Leisure (CLLA) over Cole Nokes (WECI) (TF 19-3 5:27) 132: Luke Rohmiller (WECI) over Christiano Gonzalez (CLLA) (Dec 3-0) 138: Gage Sadler (WECI) over Spencer Orr (CLLA) (Dec 8-5) 145: Ryan Faught (CLLA) over Zane Williams (WECI) (Fall 1:48) 152: Collin Oswald (WECI) over Brad Hillyer (CLLA) (Dec 7-5) 160: Ryan Ferrari (WECI) over Kaleb Froiland (CLLA) (Fall 0:51) 170: Antrez Conley (WECI) over Logan Wilcke (CLLA) (Dec 2-1) 182: Ashton High (WECI) over Rowdy Yates (CLLA) (Dec 3-0) 195: Ace Walton (CLLA) over Rylee Lawson (WECI) (Fall 3:28) 220: Cooper Lawson (WECI) over Nathan Benson (CLLA) (Fall 5:10) 285: Gavin Dinsdale (WECI) over   (CLLA) (For.) 106: Ben Hillyer (CLLA) over Trey Nelson (WECI) (Dec 5-3) 

Independence (INDE) 44.00 

Clear Lake (CLLA) 27.00

106: Jarrett Orr (INDE) over Ben Hillyer (CLLA) (MD 13-3) 113: Brennen Doebel (CLLA) over Caleb Kremer (INDE) (Fall 1:08) 120: Ryan Schmalen (CLLA) over Mitch Evens (INDE) (SV-1 7-5) 126: Ryan Leisure (CLLA) over Seth House (INDE) (Fall 3:16) 132: Drew Davis (INDE) over Christiano Gonzalez (CLLA) (Fall 3:10) 138: Spencer Orr (CLLA) over Elijiah Michaels (INDE) (Fall 3:40) 145: Ryan Faught (CLLA) over Elliott Ryan (INDE) (Fall 3:07) 152: Chase Straw (INDE) over Brad Hillyer (CLLA) (Fall 3:18) 160: Luke House (INDE) over Kaleb Froiland (CLLA) (Fall 3:45) 170: Nick Holt (INDE) over Logan Wilcke (CLLA) (Dec 5-4) 182: Logan Williams (INDE) over Rowdy Yates (CLLA) (Fall 5:52) 195: Matt McMillan (INDE) over Ace Walton (CLLA) (MD 15-2) 220: Jason Grover (INDE) over   (CLLA) (For.) 285: Sam Rathbun (INDE) over Nathan Benson (CLLA) (Dec 3-1)