Four Clear Lake wrestlers qualify for State

Four Clear Lake wrestlers have punched their ticket to State.  Ryan Schmalen, Andres Gonzalez, Brice Wilcke and Connor Nosbisch all qualified for State wrestling, which begins Thursday evening at 7 p.m. 

“They did a great job!” said head Coach Gary Weber following Saturday’s District meet at Hampton.  “We ran into Jim Miller, Wartburg’s wrestling coach, before the  meet and his advice to the boys was just to fight. They did that at all six weights.”

  Schmalen, Gonzalez and Wilcke all placed first, while Nosbisch had to wrestle back after losing in the finals.  He beat Luke Staudt, of Forest City, 9-6 to earn his spot.

“This should be an exciting week.  All four kids have a very good chance of being on the podium,” said Weber.  “We have wrestled a very difficult schedule and it is paying dividends down the stretch.  Our assistant coaches have done an outstanding job helping these young men reach their goals. We have seven coaches who help a ton to make them better.  Not many schools can say that.”

  Schmalen, a sophomore who is ranked fifth, will compete at 106-pounds at State.  Schmalen (35-4) picked up a pair of decisions, 12-4 and 7-2, on his way to a District title.  “He is looking very good heading to Des Moines.  I like the way he is wrestling right now,” said Coach Weber.  He is seeded third in the Class 2A 106 pound bracket and will face Samuel Klarenbeek (36-5), a junior from Boy Hull/Rock Valley.

Gonzalez (12-2) was the District champion at 132-pounds.  Gonzalez won by pin and a 9-2 decision Saturday.   “He is on fire, too. He has high goals and has a great chance of reaching those goals,” added the coach.  The junior transferred to Clear Lake this school year from Mason City High School.  He missed the first half of the wrestling season, sitting out the time required by open enrollment guidelines.  He finished the season ranked third in Class 2A at 132.  He will open the State tournament wrestling against Chase Wyant (40-11), of Van Meter.

At 170-pounds, Wilcke (36-3) earned a district title with a  5-2 decision and by pin.  The CLHS senior is ranked and has the style to do very well at State, noted Weber.  The fifth ranked Wilcke will take on Thomas Oleson (31-14), of West Delaware, Manchester in his opening match.

At 182-pounds, Nosbisch (29-13) finished as District runner-up to qualify for - Read More Via e-Edition