Grapplers finish week strong

Clear Lake wrestlers started the week slowly, but finished with a solid outing at a four-team tournament in Webster City.

The Lions opened the week at Iowa Falls-Alden for a North Central Conference match.  The Cadets recorded a 40-27 victory.

“We did not come ready to wrestle against Iowa Falls,” said Coach Gary Weber.  “Since that meet, the kids have really picked up their intensity.”

A bright spot in the match was the effort by Ben Finn, who was wrestling in his first varsity match.  Finn earned an 8-2 decision at 138-pounds.  Also winning was Ryan Leisure at 145, as well as Kaleb Froiland at 152.  Brothers Eric (106) and Ryan Faught (152) won by fall.  Eric pinned his opponent in :40 seconds, while Ryan took just :19 seconds.

In the second match of the night, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows defeated the Lions, 46-28.  Eric Faught, Ryan Leisure and Eric Faught picked up wins.

C-G-D- also topped IF-A, 51-27.

Battle For Floyd of

Swaldale

The wrestling team is home Thursday, Dec. 17. The Lions will wrestle Algona at 6 p.m.; Algona will wrestle Hampton-Dumont at 7 p.m.; and Clear Lake wrestles H-D at 8:30 p.m.

In the early 1990s, Hampton wrestling Coach Steve Deike wanted to create a rivalry with Clear Lake wrestling. He came up with the idea of a traveling trophy. Because Swaldale is halfway between the two towns, an idea was born.  The two teams will battle for the trophy this Thursday at 8:30 pm.

Wrestlers go 1-2 at

Webster City duals

The Clear Lake wrestling team traveled to Webster City Saturday and took third in the four-team tournament.

The Lions faced perennial 3A power Southeast Polk in their first match of the day. The Lions lost, 65-13. Eric Faught, Ryan Faught and Ryan Leisure all went 3-0 on the day and were also the three winners in the first dual.

The Lions battled hard, but lost 38-31 to Webster City.

Clear Lake won its last dual of the day, 43-26, against Ankeny.

“We wrestled very well Saturday. The kids fought and scrapped much better than they did on Thursday night in their loss to Iowa Falls,” said Coach Gary Weber.  “Our staff was very proud of them, especially since we were without three starters.”

The coach provided these comments about each wrestler’s week:

106: Eric Faught. He went 5-0 this week and wrestled like a senior.  He beat the ninth ranked wrestler from Southeast Polk, 11-3.

113: Bryan Hillyer. Bryan only weighs 105-pounds and is competing very well up a weight class.

120: Jackson Hamlin. He had four outstanding wrestlers to compete against this week and gave 100 percent.  That is all we can ask.

126: Aaron Canchola. Aaron showed improvement Saturday.

132: Will Kirschbaum. Will has a lot of heart and is only a sophomore. He is having a good year.

132: Ben Finn.  Ben had a big win against Iowa Falls in his first varsity match of his career.  He is undefeated on JV and is having a great year.

138: Ryan Leisure.  Ryan is 15-0 on the year and recorded his 100th win in just his junior year.  He is being a great leader for us this year.

145: Kaleb Froiland. Kaleb is at a comfortable weight class and is 8-7 on the year.

152: Ryan Faught. Ryan went 5-0 on the week. He is extremely coachable and is making strides.

160: Rhys Glidden.  Rhys moved up two weight classes to help the team and had a great match against Ankeny to help the team win.

170: Dalton Grell.  Dalton had a huge win against Webster City to give us a chance to win.  He is also wrestling up a weight for the team.

184: Dalton Mennenga.  Dalton had a pin against Webster City and wrestled well against Ankeny

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to help the team win.

195: Kade Hambly.  I cannot say enough good about Kade.  He weighs 172 and is wrestling up two weight classes and winning as a freshman. His come from behind win against Ankeny fired up our team and catapulted us to the win.

220: Spencer Christensen. Spencer won by forfeit against Ankeny. They are a very big school and they had no one tough enough to stay out for wrestling at 220 and we did.

285: Kyle Willms.  Kyle had a nice win against Clarion and Ankeny.  At times he gives up 50-pounds and is doing very well.

IFA 40, CL 27

106: Eric Faught (CL) over Drake Steffen (Fall 0:40) 113: Quinton Buresh (IFA) over Bryan Hillyer (MD 13-0) 120: Dante Tacchia (IFA) over Jackson Hamlin (Fall 3:58) 126: Dillon Rubow (IFA) over Aaron Canchola  (Fall 4:00) 132: Caleb Smith (IFA) over Will Kirschbaum (Fall 1:10) 138: Ben Finn (CL) over Brock Steinfeldt (Dec 8-2) 145: Ryan Leisure (CL) over Logan Steelman (Fall 1:16) 152: Kaleb Froiland (CL) over Montana Marchant (Fall 2:45) 160: Ryan Faught (CL) over Owen Kinnetz (Fall 0:19) 170: Michael Kent (IFA) over Dalton Grell  (Fall 2:59) 182: Collin  Hoover (IFA) over Dalton Mennenga (Dec 5-1) 195: Peyton Williams (IFA) over Kade Hambly (Dec 10-6) 220: Victor Sanchez (IFA) over Carter Garrington (Dec 7-4) 285: Zack Duncan (IFA) over Kyle  Willms (Dec 7-3)

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