CL grapplers qualify for State Duals

They say the best offense is a good defense.  

Clear Lake Wrestling Coach Gary Weber largely credits defensive wrestling a couple of key matches for his teams’ return to the State Dual Meet Tournament.  

Kaleb Froiland, a 145-pounder wrestling in the 160-pound match, wrestled defensively, stayed off his back and helped the Clear Lake Lions qualify for State Dual Meet today in Des Moines.  This is the 12th time in the last 24 years the Lions (21-15) have qualified for State Duals.

“This is a super accomplishment for this group of young men,” said Weber.  “We have eight winning records and six losing records on this team, and for all of them to wrestle their hearts out is just awesome!”

The Lions started the Regional Dual Meet held Tuesday in Humboldt by demolishing sectional runner up Perry, 66-8.   Winning by pin was Ryan Leisure, Logan Wilcke, Nate Benson, Ace Walton, Brennen Doebel, Brad Hillyer, Kaleb Froiland and Ryan Faught. Spencer Orr won by technical fall and Kyle Willms won by decision. Dalton Mennenga won by forfeit. 

“Both Dylon Crotty and Ben Hillyer lost, but did not get pinned and that is the key to our team,” said Weber.  

With that big win the Lions moved to the final round against Ballard, a team they lost to by a score of 44-27 just two weeks ago. 

The meet started at 182, where Logan Wilcke won an exciting match in overtime, 3-2.  Ace Walton won 13-8 at 195 to a wrestler he was pinned by two weeks before.  At 220, Kyle Willms was also pinned by his opponent two weeks ago. This time, Willms took his opponent down in the third period, escaped and took down his man with :05 seconds left for another thrilling win. 

Nate Benson had to wrestle the third ranked wrestler in State and was pinned. Ben Hillyer also drew a tough wrestler at 106, but stayed off his back.  Hillyer lost the match, 14-1, but saved two valuable team points by avoiding the fall.

Brennen Doebel beat a very good wrestler, 11-4, at 113 and Ryan Schmalen won, 10-6, at 120.  Ryan Leisure had a huge pin against another quality opponent earning six-points. 

Dylon Crotty faced the third ranked wrestler in state and lost by fall at 132. 

Spencer Orr used his patented cradle for another big pin and six more points. Ryan Faught won, 16-9, at 145 pounds and the Lions had a 30-19 lead with two matches left. Ballard picked up a pin at 152 pounds, but it was Kaleb Froiland’s efforts at 160 pounds that helped the Lions hold off the Bombers. Froiland, who is actually a 145 pounder, wrestled at 160 to help the team and did an outstanding job avoiding the pin.  He lost, 14-2, but saved two team points and the Lions had won the dual. Clear Lake forfeited at 170 to give Ballard six points, making the final score at 30-29 and the celebration was on.

Clear Lake improves to 21-15 in duals and is the eighth seed in the Class 2A state dual tournament.  They will wrestle top-ranked Union of LaPorte City today (Wednesday, Feb. 18) at 9 a.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.  The Lions finished seventh last year; their best finish was as runner-up in 1991, 1997 and 2007.  The Clear Lake wrestling program is fifth overall in state dual meet appearances and rank third in Class 2A behind Davenport Assumption (16) and Winterset (14).  

  In Class 2A, Davenport Assumption is seeking a fifth straight championship to increase their total to nine.  Five teams in Class 2A qualified a year ago.  Along with Clear Lake, they include Assumption, Davenport (seeded second), Mediapolis (seeded third), Creston/Orient-Macksburg (seeded fifth), Independence (seeded fourth); Clear Lake (seeded eighth).  Also competing in State Duals in Class 2A is New Hampton  (seeded seventh) and Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (seeded sixth).

Clear Lake 30, Ballard 29

182: Logan Wilcke (CL) over Ben Claussen (UTB 2-1) 195: Ace Walton (CL) over Seth Moore (Dec 13-8) 220: Kyle Willms (CL) over Easton Moody (Dec 4-2) 285: Alex Silberstein (B) over Nathan Benson  (Fall 1:07) 106: Jed Miller (B) over Ben Hillyer (MD 17-6) 113: Brennen Doebel (CL) over Tate  Battani  (Dec 11-4) 120: Ryan Schmalen (CL) over Jarrett Miller (Dec 10-6) 126: Ryan Leisure (CL) over Derek Wright (Fall 1:13) 132: Nathan Macki (B) over Dylon Crotty (Fall 1:51) 138: Spencer Orr (CL) over Nick Jordan (Fall 1:07) 145: Ryan Faught (CL) over Rachel Watters (Dec 16-9) 152: Kenton Brekke (B) over Brad Hillyer (Dec 8-4) 160: Will May (B) over Kaleb Froiland  (MD 14-2) 170: Max Moulden (B) win by forfeit.

 Seeding in each class is as follows:

1 vs 8; 4 vs 5; 2 vs. 7; 3 vs. 6 with team notes:

Class 2A - 9 a.m. (Semis at 1 p.m.; Consulation semis at 11 a.m.; 5th-7th at 4:30 p.m.; 1st-3rd at 6:30 p.m.)

Union, LaPorte City (36-2) - 9th trip; was in 2013 (5); Champions in 2004; runner-up 2003 vs. Clear Lake (21-15) - 12th appearance; seventh last year; best finish - runner-up 1991, 1997, 2007

Independence - seventh trip; finished third last year; 1997 champions vs. Creston-OM (17-0) - 11th trip, sixth straight; 2007 champion; runner up 2008, 2011; 2014 - 3rd

Assumption, Davenport (19-2) - 16th trip, 8th straight; 8 titles - 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 vs.

New Hampton (27-8) - 7th appearance; first since winning in 2005; also champs in 1990, 1993; 2nd in 1999

Mediapolis (25-4) - fifth appearance; third straight after taking third in 2013 and runner-up last winter vs. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (19-0) - third trip; first since third place finish in 2008