Lions wrestlers place third at home Invitational

(Above) Ryan Leasure earned Championship honors at the Clear Lake Invitational.  Leasure wrestles at 138 pounds.

The Clear Lake wrestling team had a busy week at home coming off of the Christmas break.  The team posted a conference win over Humboldt, then hosted an eight-team tournament, finishing third.

The Lions will host their last meet of the season Tuesday, Jan. 19, against Mason City.  It will be a busy night.  The CLHS chorus will be singing the National Anthem, the pep band will play, it is Senior Night and Parents Night. Elementary wrestlers will be dualing Mason City kids starting at 6 p.m.

“It should be a fun night,” stated coach Gary Weber, who will also be coaching his final home match that night.  Weber is retiring following this, his 34th season at the Lion helm.    Weber began the 2015-16 campaign with a record of 427-204-3, ranking him in the top 10 in Iowa wrestling history.  He began his career in Plainfield, then after six years came to Clear Lake, where he turned the Lion program into a perennial power.

CL 45, Humboldt 28

On Thursday, Jan. 7, the Lions hosted North Central Conference foe Humboldt.  In a match between two evenly matched teams, Clear Lake came out on top, 45-28.

“Our kids stepped it up and came away with a big NCC conference win,” said Coach Weber.

The meet started at 152, where Ryan Faught started with a big pin.  Cooper Merrill wrestled well, but lost  by decision at 160, as did Dalton Grell at 170. Kade Hambly was pinned at 182 and so was Dalton Mennenga at 195.

Senior Ace Walton moved up to 220 and changed Humboldt’s momentum with his own pin.  Teammate Kyle Willms did the same at 285 and the Lions were back in the meet.  Two more pins by Eric Faught and Bryan Hillyer, at 106 and 113, gave the Lions the lead.

Freshman Braxton Doebel made his first high school match a memorable one and won by decision at 120. Aarron Canchola lost by fall 126 and Will Kirschbaum lost by decision at 132. Ryan Leisure and Kaleb Froiland both won by fall for the final score, 45-28.

“To get seven pins against a quality team is a good showing by our kids,” said Weber.

Clear Lake Invitational

The Clear Lake wrestling team placed third Saturday in their own tournament.  A very good Oelwein team won the tourney.

Clear Lake’s three ranked wrestlers all wrestled well and placed first. Several other Lions had good showings, helping Clear Lake to place ahead of fourth place Charles City and fifth place Forest City.  Alton and Emmetsburg were sixth and seventh.

The Lions also had five junior varsity grapplers wrestle in the varsity tournament as wild cards and they competed very well, commented Coach Gary Weber.  “Hat’s off to Dale Ludwig and Mike Lester for running a very smooth tourney.”

Here is a recap of the tournament provided by the coach:

106: Eric Faught, first place. Eric still has not had a close match this year.  He is 17-0 and ranked second in the state.

113: Bryan Hillyer, third place.  He had an awesome day. He only weighs 105 and wrestles 113.

120: Braxton Doebel, third place. This was his first week of wrestling after breaking his arm in PE class. He did well.

120: Jackson Hamlin, fifth place. He showed improvement in his defense throughout the day so we are pleased.

126: Ben Hillyer, fourth place.  Ben had two very good matches and showed big improvement.

132: Ben Finn, fifth place.  Ben wrestled in his first varsity tourney and gained valuable experience. He dropped a weight class to help the team. 138: Ryan Leis, first place. Ryan handily beat the fifth ranked wrestler and is looking good.

145: Kaleb Froilan, third place . Kaleb is 14-11 and is enjoying a very good senior year. His cradle is dangerous.

145: Marcus Soto. He looked good at times, but just needs more experience.

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152: Ryan Faught, first place. Ryan won in the ultimate tie breaker in overtime. He is a winner.

152: Dylon Crotty. He lost a close 2-1 decision and he, too, gained valuable experience.

160: Cooper Merrill. Coop had a very tough weight class with all winning records and did not place.

170: Dalton Grell, third place. Dalton had a fantastic day. He had a big pin in OT for third place. Cooper and Dalton both moved up a weight class to help the team and both are 10-pounds underweight.

182: Kade Hambly. fourth place. Kade did great.  He is in ninth grade and wrestling juniors and seniors and competing well.

182: Dalton Mennenga. He showed improvement Saturday, but did not place.

195: Ace Walton, second place.  Ace’s only loss was to state place winner Nick Jacobs, of Charles City.

285: Kyle Willms, fifth place.  Kyle only weighs 230 and is competing against kids that weigh 50-pounds more. He is doing well.

Clear Lake 45, Humboldt 28

152: Ryan Faught (CL) over Jaxon Kampen (Fall 0:46) 160: Colton Munson (H) over Cooper Merrill  (Dec 7-3) 170: Gus Arnold (H) over Dalton Grell  (MD 10-2) 182: Malcolm Boyd (H) over Kade Hambly  (Fall 3:06) 195: Trayton Harris (H) over Dalton Mennenga (Fall 1:38) 220: Ace Walton (CL) over Jed Larson (H) (Fall 1:13) 285: Kyle  Willms (CL) over Justin Jones (Fall 0:38) 106: Eric Faught (CL) over Aaron  Diesburg (Fall 1:17) 113: Bryan Hillyer (CL) over Jade Lange (Fall 1:12) 120: Braxton Doebel (CL) over Timmy Larson  (Dec 9-4) 126: Zane Russell (H) over Aaron Canchola  (Fall 1:57) 132: Joey Busse (H) over Will Kirschbaum (Dec 6-0) 138: Ryan Leisure (CL) over Jaden Kampen (Fall 1:22) 145: Kaleb Froiland (CL) over Logan Moser (Fall 3:24)

Clear Lake Invite Results for Clear Lake

106 - Eric Faught (16-0) placed 1st and scored 24.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Eric Faught (Clear Lake) 16-0 received a bye () (Bye)

    Semifinal - Eric Faught (Clear Lake) 16-0 won by fall over Bryce Witham (Algona) 2-2 (Fall 1:21)

    1st Place Match - Eric Faught (Clear Lake) 16-0 won by fall over Alec Fett (Forest City) 16-5 (Fall 5:55)

113 - Bryan Hillyer (9-15) placed 3rd and scored 14.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Bryan Hillyer (Clear Lake) 9-15 won by fall over Nicholas Duffy (Oelwein) 8-19 (Fall 3:18)

    Semifinal - Devan Hackenmiller (Saint Ansgar) 9-12 won by decision over Bryan Hillyer (Clear Lake) 9-15 (Dec 4-0)

    Cons. Semi - Bryan Hillyer (Clear Lake) 9-15 received a bye () (Bye)

    3rd Place Match - Bryan Hillyer (Clear Lake) 9-15 won by decision over Nicholas Duffy (Oelwein) 8-19 (Dec 8-1)

120 - Jackson Hamlin (11-14) placed 5th.

    Quarterfinal - Braxton Doebel (Clear Lake) 4-1 won by decision over Jackson Hamlin (Clear Lake) 11-14 (Dec 3-2)

    Cons. Round 1 - Jackson Hamlin (Clear Lake) 11-14 received a bye () (Bye)

    Cons. Semi - Christian Nichols (Emmetsburg) 17-8 won by decision over Jackson Hamlin (Clear Lake) 11-14 (Dec 14-13)

    5th Place Match - Jackson Hamlin (Clear Lake) 11-14 won by fall over Alex Bronson (Algona) 4-16 (Fall 1:21)

120 - Braxton Doebel (4-1) placed 3rd and scored 14.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Braxton Doebel (Clear Lake) 4-1 won by decision over Jackson Hamlin (Clear Lake) 11-14 (Dec 3-2)

    Semifinal - Austin Parmely (Oelwein) 16-6 won by fall over Braxton Doebel (Clear Lake) 4-1 (Fall 3:30)

    Cons. Semi - Braxton Doebel (Clear Lake) 4-1 won by fall over Alex Bronson (Algona) 4-16 (Fall 3:18)

    3rd Place Match - Braxton Doebel (Clear Lake) 4-1 won by decision over Christian Nichols (Emmetsburg) 17-8 (Dec 15-12)

126 - Aaron Canchola (7-20) placed 6th and scored 3.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Ben Hillyer (Clear Lake) 6-3 won by decision over Aaron Canchola (Clear Lake) 7-20 (Dec 7-4)

    Cons. Round 1 - Aaron Canchola (Clear Lake) 7-20 received a bye () (Bye)

    Cons. Semi - Riley Hershey (Oelwein) 13-6 won by fall over Aaron Canchola (Clear Lake) 7-20 (Fall 2:50)

    5th Place Match - Ethan Berven (Emmetsburg) 3-4 won by fall over Aaron Canchola (Clear Lake) 7-20 (Fall 3:27)

126 - Ben Hillyer (6-3) placed 4th.

    Quarterfinal - Ben Hillyer (Clear Lake) 6-3 won by decision over Aaron Canchola (Clear Lake) 7-20 (Dec 7-4)

    Semifinal - Nate Lasher (Charles City) 14-7 won by tech fall over Ben Hillyer (Clear Lake) 6-3 (TF-1.5 3:53 (18-2))

    Cons. Semi - Ben Hillyer (Clear Lake) 6-3 won by decision over Ethan Berven (Emmetsburg) 3-4 (Dec 14-12)

    3rd Place Match - Riley Hershey (Oelwein) 13-6 won by major decision over Ben Hillyer (Clear Lake) 6-3 (MD 14-2)

132 - Ben Finn (6-3) placed 5th and scored 11.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Ben Finn (Clear Lake) 6-3 won by fall over Cole Reams (Charles City) 6-13 (Fall 0:41)

    Semifinal - Brennon Ryan (Oelwein) 22-4 won by fall over Ben Finn (Clear Lake) 6-3 (Fall 1:57)

    Cons. Semi - Jackson Knight (Emmetsburg) 12-15 won by fall over Ben Finn (Clear Lake) 6-3 (Fall 2:37)

    5th Place Match - Ben Finn (Clear Lake) 6-3 won by fall over Blake Jacobs (Forest City) 13-14 (Fall 1:16)

138 - Ryan Leisure (25-1) placed 1st and scored 23.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Ryan Leisure (Clear Lake) 25-1 won by fall over Zack Wagner (Forest City) 9-16 (Fall 0:14)

    Semifinal - Ryan Leisure (Clear Lake) 25-1 won by major decision over Cutter Bruce (Saint Ansgar) 14-9 (MD 17-5)

    1st Place Match - Ryan Leisure (Clear Lake) 25-1 won by decision over Austin Staudt (Charles City) 13-2 (Dec 7-2)

138 - Jacob Pingel (0-2) place is unknown.

    Quarterfinal - Jake Kuhens (Oelwein) 20-10 won by fall over Jacob Pingel (Clear Lake) 0-2 (Fall 2:50)

    Cons. Round 1 - Devlynn Sasse (West Fork) 7-16 won by decision over Jacob Pingel (Clear Lake) 0-2 (Dec 6-1)

145 - Kaleb Froiland (14-11) placed 3rd and scored 18.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Kaleb Froiland (Clear Lake) 14-11 won by fall over Clay Pierce (Saint Ansgar) 4-19 (Fall 2:56)

    Semifinal - Carter Block (Oelwein) 15-6 won by major decision over Kaleb Froiland (Clear Lake) 14-11 (MD 10-2)

    Cons. Semi - Kaleb Froiland (Clear Lake) 14-11 won by fall over Dillon Van Oosbree (Emmetsburg) 16-11 (Fall 3:14)

    3rd Place Match - Kaleb Froiland (Clear Lake) 14-11 won by fall over Dylan Koresh (Charles City) 9-9 (Fall 1:05)

145 - Marcus Soto (0-2) place is unknown.

    Quarterfinal - Pierce Gelhaus (Forest City) 23-1 won by fall over Marcus Soto (Clear Lake) 0-2 (Fall 3:25)

    Cons. Round 1 - Dillon Van Oosbree (Emmetsburg) 16-11 won by fall over Marcus Soto (Clear Lake) 0-2 (Fall 3:18)

152 - Ryan Faught (23-4) placed 1st and scored 22.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Ryan Faught (Clear Lake) 23-4 won by fall over Paul Olson (Forest City) 0-2 (Fall 0:39)

    Semifinal - Ryan Faught (Clear Lake) 23-4 won by decision over Dayton Smith (Saint Ansgar) 16-11 (Dec 6-3)

    1st Place Match - Ryan Faught (Clear Lake) 23-4 won in the ultimate tie breaker over Cole Stanford (Oelwein) 23-3 (UTB 1-1)

152 - Dylon Crotty (0-2) place is unknown.

    Quarterfinal - Cole Stanford (Oelwein) 23-3 won by fall over Dylon Crotty (Clear Lake) 0-2 (Fall 1:58)

    Cons. Round 1 - Conner Crosgrove (Emmetsburg) 11-14 won by decision over Dylon Crotty (Clear Lake) 0-2 (Dec 2-1)

160 - Cooper Merrill (6-11) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Brandon Childs (Charles City) 13-6 won by tech fall over Cooper Merrill (Clear Lake) 6-11 (TF-1.5 3:28 (16-1) 

Cons. Round 1 - Parker Hendrickson (Saint Ansgar) 3-5 won by fall over Cooper Merrill (Clear Lake) 6-11 (Fall 1:21)

170 - Dalton Grell (5-17) placed 3rd and scored 15.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Ethan Mayer (Saint Ansgar) 20-8 won by fall over Dalton Grell (Clear Lake) 5-17 (Fall 2:42)

    Cons. Round 1 - Dalton Grell (Clear Lake) 5-17 received a bye () (Bye)

    Cons. Semi - Dalton Grell (Clear Lake) 5-17 won by fall over Austin Noll (Emmetsburg) 4-9 (Fall 2:15)

    3rd Place Match - Dalton Grell (Clear Lake) 5-17 won by fall over Trevor Devine (Algona) 6-9 (Fall 6:56)

182 - Kade Hambly (7-16) placed 4th and scored 12.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Alex Koehler (Charles City) 7-9 won by fall over Kade Hambly (Clear Lake) 7-16 (Fall 3:10)

    Cons. Round 1 - Kade Hambly (Clear Lake) 7-16 won by fall over Triston Springer (Forest City) 5-20 (Fall 4:44)

Cons. Semi - Kade Hambly (Clear Lake) 7-16 won by major decision over Blake Adams (Saint Ansgar) 13-7 (MD 17-7)

    3rd Place Match - Alex Koehler (Charles City) 7-9 won by fall over Kade Hambly (Clear Lake) 7-16 (Fall 1:28)

182 - Dalton Mennenga (0-2) place is unknown.

    Quarterfinal - Blake Adams (Saint Ansgar) 13-7 won by fall over Dalton Mennenga (Clear Lake) 0-2 (Fall 3:20)

    Cons. Round 1 - Noah Murphy (Algona) 13-12 won by decision over Dalton Mennenga (Clear Lake) 0-2 (Dec 4-2)

195 - Ace Walton (6-3) placed 2nd and scored 18.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Ace Walton (Clear Lake) 6-3 won by fall over Jimmie Steffens (Emmetsburg) 5-7 (Fall 1:04)

    Semifinal - Ace Walton (Clear Lake) 6-3 won by decision over Dominick Etherington (Algona) 15-6 (Dec 8-5)

    1st Place Match - Nick Jacobs (Charles City) 14-9 won by major decision over Ace Walton (Clear Lake) 6-3 (MD 8-0)

220 - Spencer Christensen (0-3) placed 6th and scored 3.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Aaron Maloy (Charles City) 15-8 won by fall over Spencer Christensen (Clear Lake) 0-3 (Fall 1:46)

    Cons. Round 1 - Spencer Christensen (Clear Lake) 0-3 received a bye () (Bye)

    Cons. Semi - Robert Nelson (Emmetsburg) 15-10 won by fall over Spencer Christensen (Clear Lake) 0-3 (Fall 1:32)

    5th Place Match - Alex Bender (West Fork) 14-12 won by major decision over Spencer Christensen (Clear Lake) 0-3 (MD 10-2)

285 - Kyle Willms (16-12) placed 5th and scored 7.00 team points.

    Quarterfinal - Kyle Willms (Clear Lake) 16-12 won by decision over Tanner Shreckengost (West Fork) 15-10 (Dec 2-0)

    Semifinal - Brody Tupy (Charles City) 19-4 won by fall over Kyle Willms (Clear Lake) 16-12 (Fall 5:04)

    Cons. Semi - Henry Horan (Oelwein) 16-9 won by fall over Kyle Willms (Clear Lake) 16-12 (Fall 0:32)

    5th Place Match - Kyle Willms (Clear Lake) 16-12 won by decision over Josh Wegener (Algona) 12-14 (Dec 4-1)

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