Lion wrestlers face some tough competition

Clear Lake wrestlers took on top competition from within the North Central Conference, as well as the State, in a busy week.

“As a team we improved greatly,” said Coach Mike Lester.  “It’s tough to lose those close ones, but this team is a bunch of scrappers and that is what we did.  They fought and wrestled with intensity.”

The performances of Eric Faught (113) and Ryan Leisure (145) have not gone unnoticed.  Both grapplers are rated number one (2A) at their respective weights in rankings released Tuesday, Dec. 13, by IAwrestle.

Clarion-Goldfield-Dow’s 36, CL 31

CL 45, Iowa Falls-Alden 31

The Lions moved their dual meet record to 5-3 after a pair of meets with NCC foes Clarion-Goldfield-Dows and Iowa Falls-Alden Thursday, Dec. 8.  Coach Mike Lester said the night was a good chance to see what areas the team needs to work on.

The first dual of the night was decided by bonus points.  The host Cowboys topped the Lions, 36-31.  Braxton Doebel, Bryan Hillyer and Ryan Leisure each won by fall.

The Lions used five falls against Iowa Falls-Alden for a 45-31 win.  Doebel and Leisure each tallied their second pin of the night to help the Lions.  Ben Finn, Kyle Willms, Spencer Christensen and Eric Faught also won by fall.

Dick Kennedy Duals

The Lions went 1-2 at Webster City’s Dick Kennedy Duals on Saturday.  Clear Lake bested Pocahontas by a  score of 49-27, but dropped a close contest with Webster City, 36-31, and then was thrashed by Southeast Polk, 55-14.

The event was a momentous one for senior Ryan Leisure, whose three wins on the day moved him into a tie on the school’s all-time win list with Tucker Weber.  Leisure, wrestling at 145-pounds, received a forfeit against Pocahontas, had a major decision over his Webster City opponent, and defeated topped ranked (3A) Zach Barnes, from Southeast Polk, 3-2.

“It was a tight match in which he scored the sole takedown to win,” reported Coach Mike Lester. “It was a good marque win for him.”Eric Faught also had a great day.  Faught bumped up from his usual slot at 113 to wrestle third ranked Drake Doolittle, from Webster City, and got a victory with a takedown in overtime.

“Eric showed great team spirit by moving up and mental strength, giving up seven pounds.  It was a great match for him,” said Coach Lester.

Against Pocahontas, Faught beat the second ranked wrestler at 113-pounds, Shea Ruffridge.  “He battled the whole match and wrestled at the pace he needed to win his match.  He did a great job,” added the

[wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember]

[wlm_ismember]

coach.  Faught ended the day taking on another rated wrestler.  He recorded a technical fall over Mark Ames, from Southeast Polk.  “It was a great way to end the day for Eric.  He wrestled with passion and desire for a state title,” said Coach Lester.

Kyle Willms went 3-0 Saturday at 220-pounds.

“He is wrestling with great hand fighting techniques, which is wearing his opponents down,” said Coach Lester.  “His shape and style is leading him to great success.”

Clarion-Goldfield-Dow’s 36, CL 31

152: Ben Finn (CL) over Dakota Hennigar (CLGO) (MD 15-2) 160: Sam Wigans (CL) over Rhys Glidden (CL) (Fall 2:53) 170: Reymundo Vasquez (CLGO) over Kyle Calaguas (CL) (Dec 5-1) 182: Mason Carpenter (CLGO) over Kade Hambly (CL) (MD 12-1) 195: Ben Powers (CLGO) over Dalton Mennenga (CL) (Fall 3:30) 220: Kyle Willms (CL) over Salvador Fregoso (CLGO) (Dec 2-0) 285: Trent McAtee (CLGO) over Spencer Christensen (CL) (Dec 7-1) 106: Chance Konopasek (CLGO) over Conner Morey (CL) (TF 20-2 4:53) 113: Eric Faught (CL) over (CLGO) (Fall 1:15) 120: Bryan Hillyer (CL) over Ben Oehlert (CLGO) (Fall 0:55) 126: Connor Johnson (CLGO) over Jackson Hamlin (CL) (MD 13-0) 132: Braxton Doebel (CL) over Chase Murga (CLGO) (Fall 2:51) 138: Tanner Abbas (CLGO) over Aaron Canchola (CL) (TF 23-8 4:40) 145: Ryan Leisure (CL) over Carter Dietz (CLGO) (Fall 3:32)

CL 45, Iowa Falls-Alden (IFA) 31

160: Montana Marchant (IFA) over Rhys Glidden (CL) (Dec 8-5) 170: Riley McWherter (IFA) over Kyle Calaguas (CL) (Fall 3:31) 182: Michael Kent (IFA) over Kade Hambly (CL) (Fall 3:34) 195: Dalton Mennenga (CL) over Antonio Serros (IFA) (TB-1 8-7) 220: Kyle Willms (CL) over McKade Eisentrager (IFA) (Fall 1:12) 285: Spencer Christensen (CL) over Maxwell Adams (IFA) (Fall 2:46) 106: Jack  Ites (IFA) over Conner Morey (CL) (Fall 0:45) 113: Eric Faught (CL) over Drake Steffen (IFA) (Fall 0:24) 120: Bryan Hillyer (CL) over   (IFA) (For.) 126: Dante Tacchia (IFA) over Jackson Hamlin (CL) (MD 24-13) 132: Braxton Doebel (CL) over Darin Lemke (IFA) (Fall 1:22) 138: Riley  Burke (IFA) over Aaron Canchola (CL) (Fall 4:26) 145: Ryan Leisure (CL) over Briar Hoversten (IFA) (Fall 0:18) 152: Ben Finn (CL) over Brock Steinfeldt (IFA) (Fall 0:39)

CL 46, Pocahontas Area (POAR) 27

106: Jacob Mielke (POAR) over Conner Morey (CL) (Fall 0:12) 113: Eric Faught (CL) over Shea Ruffridge (POAR) (Dec 7-6) 120: Bryan Hillyer (CL) over Tyler Vick (POAR) (Fall 3:05) 126: Jackson Hamlin (CL) over Thomas Melohn (POAR) (Dec 4-0) 132: Braxton Doebel (CL) over Chandler  Witzke (POAR) (MD 10-2) 138: Cage Arends (POAR) over   (CL) (For.) 145: Ryan Leisure (CL) over   (POAR) (For.) 152: Clayton Reis (POAR) over Ben Finn (CL) (Dec 10-6) 160: Tyler Reis (POAR) over Rhys Glidden (CL) (Fall 1:30) 170: Chance Poley (CL) over Braxton Long (POAR) (Fall 1:21) 182: Kade Hambly (CL) over Drake Jones (POAR) (Fall 0:44) 195: Dalton Mennenga (CL) over   (POAR) (For.) 220: Kyle Willms (CL) over Keegan Jepsen (POAR) (Fall 0:17) 285: Tim Elliott (POAR) over Spencer Christensen (CL) (Fall 3:09)

Webster City (WECI) 36, CL 31

106: Trey Nelson (WECI) over   (CL) (For.) 113: Conner Morey (CL) over   (WECI) (For.) 120: Eric Faught (CL) over Drake Doolittle (WECI) (SV-1 8-6) 126: Jackson Hamlin (CL) over Brady Auderer (WECI) (Dec 12-5) 132: Carson Hartnett (WECI) over Braxton Doebel (CL) (Dec 5-3) 138: Sean Godfredsen (WECI) over   (CL) (For.) 145: Ryan Leisure (CL) over Luke Rohmiller (WECI) (MD 15-4) 152: Ben Finn (CL) over Harrison Hayes (WECI) (Fall 2:38) 160: Rhys Glidden (CL) over Carter Bedford (WECI) (Dec 12-7) 170: Zane Williams (WECI) over Kyle Calaguas (CL) (Fall 0:25) 182: Brandon Peck (WECI) over Kade Hambly (CL) (Dec 7-4) 195: Rocco Miller (WECI) over Dalton Mennenga (CL) (Fall 0:47) 220: Kyle Willms (CL) over Hunter Collicott (WECI) (Fall 0:46) 285: Cooper Lawson (WECI) over Spencer Christensen (CL) (Fall 0:38)

Southeast Polk (SEPK) 55,CL 14.00

106: Ryan Strickland (SEPK) over Conner Morey (CL) (Fall 0:26) 113: Eric Faught (CL) over Mark Ames (SEPK) (TF 15-0 4:00) 120: Camden Baarda (SEPK) over Bryan Hillyer (CL) (MD 11-2) 126: Adam Brown (SEPK) over Jackson Hamlin (CL) (TF 26-11 5:24) 132: Cade DeVos (SEPK) over Braxton Doebel (CL) (MD 24-10) 138: Nathan Marchand (SEPK) over   (CLLA) (For.) 145: Ryan Leisure (CL) over Zach Barnes (SEPK) (Dec 3-2) 152: Sawyer Shaw (SEPK) over Ben Finn (CL) (MD 10-2) 160: Thaddeus Breitsprecker (SEPK) over Rhys Glidden (CL) (TF 23-8 4:32) 170: Gavin Babcock (SEPK) over Kyle Calaguas (CL) (Fall 0:53) 182: Gabe Christenson (SEPK) over Kade Hambly (CL) (Fall 2:56) 195: Brady Wenner (SEPK) over Dalton Mennenga (CL) (Dec 5-1) 220: Kyle Willms (CL) over Grant Dishinger (SEPK) (Fall 4:41) 285: Levi Brand (SEPK) over Spencer Christensen (CL) (Fall 0:43)

[/wlm_ismember]