Cowboys capture win over Clear Lake

The Clarion Cowboys pulled out a 37-32 win Thursday night in a packed Clear Lake gym. 

“Our crowd was amazing,” stated Lion Coach Gary Weber.  “I just wish we would have performed a little better to pull out a win for them.”

While the outcome wasn’t what they hoped for, Lions fans were kept on the edge of their seats in the tight battle.  

The Cowboys opened with a pin at 113, but the Lions got a forfeit at 120.  Spencer Orr then picked up an 8-4 decision at 126, but C-G responded with a pin, a major decision and a decision to extend their lead.

Clear Lake won four out of five matches from 152 to 195 pounds, which gave the Lions a 26-25 lead.  However, a fall at 220 and a forfeit at heavyweight gave the Cowboys the North Central Conference victory.

“I felt Blake Kelso wrestled extremely well, along with the Wilcke brothers (Logan and Brice), Ryan Schmalen and Spencer Orr,” noted Coach Weber.  “Connor Nosbisch is also starting to figure out how to wrestle in the upper weights and had a nice match.”

Kelso (152) and Nosbisch (195) each posted major decisions.  Logan Wilcke was a 4-0 winner at 170 and Brice Wilcke recorded a fall in just :44 at 182.  

“We are a young team and some days we look really good, and some days we lose our focus a little bit.   We are now 3-1 in conference and are still in a good position for a NCC title,” said Coach Weber.

Battle of Waterloo

Clear Lake participated in a meeting of the state’s top wrestling programs at the Battle of Waterloo Friday. The Lions, seeded sixth in their pool, opened the elite tournament with a loss to third-seeded Western Dubuque, 42-21.  The loss sent the Lions to the consolation bracket, where they defeated Waterloo Columbus, 55-21, but then dropped a lopsided match to rival Mason City, 50-18, competing for fifth place in Pool B.

Against Western Dubuque, Mitchel Jordan (285), Ryan Schmalen (106) and Aaron Boeshart (145) all won with pins, while Brice Wilcke (170) earned a 12-6 decision.

Schmalen and Boeshart picked up their second wins of the day against Waterloo Columbus.  Spencer Orr also won by fall.  Blake Kelso, Logan Wilcke and Brice Wilcke were - Read More Via e-Edition