Wrestlers compete at Herb Irgens Invite

Five Okoboji/HMS wrestlers were among the place finishers during the Herb Irgens Invitational, hosted by OABCIG on Jan. 20-21.

James Gellerman was the only competitor from H-M-S to finish in the Top 8. The 182 pounder pinned Seth Donelson of East Sac County in 27 seconds and won an 8-1 decision over Wyatt Haffner of Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire. Following a loss by fall in 1:37 to Deontez Williams of Pocahontas Area, Gellerman edged Brendan Lamfers of Sioux Center, 4-3, and was pinned by Landon Fernandez of Don Bosco in 1:43. In the seventh-place match, Gellerman won a 9-1 major decision over Zeb Kleinsmith of Solon.

Bryce Dodge opened the 152-pound bracket with a bye before pinning Ryan Sommerlot of Pocahontas Area in 3:02. Dodge then lost by fall to Kellen Smith of West Hancock in 2:33 and to Cade Klingensmith of Sergeant Bluff-Luton in 5:55.

Ethan Wiersma had a first-round bye at 195 pounds before losing by fall to Jacques Zomermaand of Sioux Center in 4:40. Following a bye in the consolation round, Wiersma pinned Treyton Kleve of GT/RA in 5:17 and then lost by fall to Masen Streck of SB-L in 1:56.

Other Pioneers who placed were Tyce Hanson, third at 126 pounds; Noah Strantz, fourth at 160; Dylan Jones, sixth at 120; and Mike Gonnerman, eighth at 113.

Twenty-five teams scored points, led by Don Bosco with 271. Sergeant Bluff-Luton was a distant second with 216.5 and Carroll was third with 171.

Okoboji/HMS finished seventh with 91.5 points. Results for other area teams were West Lyon, 10th, 76; Sioux Center, 14th, 60.5; Sibley-Ocheyedan, 15th, 50; Akron-Westfield, 16th, 48; Western Christian, 17th, 44; and Cherokee, 24th, 14.

The Pioneers' home double dual on Jan. 19 was postponed. Okoboji/HMS will compete on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Siouxland Conference wrestling tournament. Sioux Center will host the event which begins at 10 a.m.