Team starts things off in State Duals today

For the 11th time in the past 26 years, the Clear Lake wrestling team has qualified for the State Dual Meet Tournament. The Lions, the fifth seed in the Class 2A field, will take the mat today (Wednesday, Feb. 19) at 11 a.m. against the number four seed, Creston-Orient Macksburg.  The Lions have a dual meet record of 23-4, while C-OM is 16-0. 

“Our staff really emphasizes the team aspect of wrestling. We feel  it is an important life skill for our wrestlers to set high goals and to work as a team to attain them,” said Coach Gary Weber following wins over Forest City and Crestwood Tuesday night which qualified the Lions for State.  “Our wrestlers, coaches, stats, cheerleaders, band, parents and fans have all played a major part in our team making it to state.  To be in the top eight teams out of 96 is pretty special.”

In the first meet of the night Tuesday, the Lions took on a feisty Forest City squad.  The match started at 170, where Logan Wilcke and Connor Nosbisch started the Lions off with a  pin and decision.  The Indians bounced back with wins at the next three weights to take the lead.  But as they have all season, the lower weights lifted the Lions with six wins and a forfeit to lock up the meet. Two late pins by the Indians made the score 43-27.

As the Lions were battling Forest City, Coach Weber said he couldn’t help but watch the action on the other mat, where eighth ranked Osage was battling Crestwood.  The Cadets opened up a good lead on the always-tough Green Devils, making Weber think his Lions might be in for even more of a test than he expected.

The Lions started strong against the Cadets, with Nosbisch pinning his opponent. Carter Garrington went the distance, but fell 8-7. A forfeit at 220 added to Clear Lake’s early lead, but Mitchell Jordan swung momentum the Lions’ way with a tie-breaker win at 285.  Jordan successfully held his opponent down for 30-seconds in the tie-breaker, then was able to score in his own 30-seconds on the bottom to score and win.  With the crowd on full frenzy, the Lions rattled off four straight pins to pad their lead.  Two more falls gave the lions a 51-23 victory.       Assumption is seeking a fourth straight championship to increase their State Dual Team crown total to eight.

The action gets underway today at 11 a.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.   Opening round pairings include:

#1 Mediapolis (23-5), making its fourth trip to State Duals, placing third in 2013, vs. #8 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (21-0), making its second appearance and first since qualifying in 2003.

#4 Creston-OM (16-0), 10th trip, fifth straight; 2007 champion; runner-up 2008, 2011; 2013 - 6th

vs. #5 Clear Lake (23-4), making its 11th appearance, first since 2010; runner-up 1991, 1997, 2007.

#2 Assumption, Davenport (19-3), 15th trip, seventh straight; seven titles - 1995, 96, 98, 99, 2011,12, 13 

vs. #7 Webster City (23-3), fourth appearance; runner-up in 1991.

#3 Albia (33-3), in its first ever trip to the State Dual Team Tourney vs. #6 Independence (25-4), in its sixth trip; first since 2009; 1997 champions.

Clear Lake 43, Forest City 27

170: Logan Wilcke (CL) pinned Tyler Brock, 4:27. 182: Connor Nosbisch (CL) dec. Jake Staudt, 8-4. 195: Tyler Prescott (FC) pinned Carter Garrington, 0:53. 220: Alex Paulson (FC) maj. dec. Ace Walton, 16-2. 285: Tyler Putney (FC) tech. fall Mitchell Jordan, 4:00 15-0. 106: Ben Hillyer (CL) forf.  113: Brennen Doebel (CL) maj. dec. Andrew Mettry, 10-0. 120: Ryan Leisure (CL) pinned Samuel Swanson, 1:17. 126: Ryan Schmalen (CL) dec. Pierce Gelhaus, 7-2. 132: Spencer Orr (CL) dec. Maverick Freerksen, 6-4. 138: Ryan Faught (CL) pinned Derrick Wubben, 1:42.