Three CL grappers crowned NCC champions

Clear Lake crowned three champions and had two second place finishes Saturday at the North Central Conference wrestling tournament.  The team placed third, behind champion Webster City and runner-up Clarion-Goldfield. 

“I guess we are a little bit better as a dual meet team than a tournament team,” said Lions Coach Gary Weber.  “It is tough for some of our young guys to score points in a tournament, but they stay off their backs and help us win meets.”

Winning titles for the Lions was Brennen Doebel at 106-pounds, Ryan Faught at 132 and Andres Gonzalez at 138.

Finishing in second place was Ryan Schmalen, competing in his first matches of the season at 120-pounds since undergoing surgery following an injury sustained just before the season-opener.  Ryan Leisure was runner-up at 126-pounds.

Doebel provided Lions fans with the most exciting match of the day.  The sophomore trailed 6-2 late in the match and tied it up 6-6.  He went on to pin Justin Portillo, of Clarion-Goldfield, who is ranked second in the state. 

Faught, a junior, received a first round bye, then won by fall over - Read More Via e-Edition

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