3-for-3

Okoboji/HMS resumed the 2023-24 boys' wrestling season in a big way on Jan. 4, sweeping a quadrangular hosted by East Sac County. The Pioneers improved their dual record to 7-2 with wins over East Sac County, 71-12; Manson Northwest Webster, 54-24; and Pocahontas Area, 45-33.

The five wrestlers from H-M-S who competed in the varsity duals finished with a record of 7-1 in matches wrestled, and received a total of seven forfeits.

Nathan Stofferan (113 pounds) pinned Eli Schoon of Manson Northwest Webster (2:26) and Brody Wallace of Pocahontas Area (1:53), and received a forfeit. James Gellerman (175) won by fall over Mickael Manzer of ESC (0:23) and Oryan Hanson of MNW (1:57), and received a forfeit.

Ethan Wiersma (215) won by fall over Kaydon Erpelding of ESC (2:24) and Isaiah Dunbar of Pocahontas Area (2:43), and won a decision over Mason Anderson of MNW (5-3). Bryce Ortega (285) was a winner by forfeit in all three duals.

Austin Greer (120/126) received two forfeits and lost by fall to John Ackermen of Pocahontas Area (0:54).

Other Okoboji/HMS wrestlers with 3-0 records were Tyce Hanson (132) and Nathaniel Franklin (165). Myles Lopez (120/126), Tyler Pyle (150), Alex Rouse (157) and Sam Bockman (195) all had 2-1 records for the night.

Three H-M-S athletes had success in the extra (JV) matches with MNW. Mykle Meyers won by fall over Owen Compart (1:13), David Wetrich pinned Compart (1:14) and Taylor Dykstra won a 12-7 decision over Evan Fardal.

• Finish seventh at Clear Lake

The Pioneers were back on the road on Jan. 6 to compete in the Clear Lake Invitational. Four H-M-S wrestlers were among the Top 6 finishers in their weight classes.

James Gellerman was runner-up at 175 pounds. He pinned Hayden Bergman of Clear Lake (0:17) and Dane Kitzinger of Algona (2:52). Jace Nelson-Brown won the championship match by fall in 1:07.

Nathan Stofferan placed third at 113 pounds. He won by fall over Hayden Shear of Clear Lake (2:40) and was pinned by Deegan Moore of Forest City (3:39). No score was given for the third-place match, which Stofferan won by decision.

Ethan Wiersma was the fifth-place finisher at 215 pounds. He won a decision over Nick Saxton of Emmetsburg (8-4) and was pinned by Jake Trenary of Clear Lake (0:41). Wiersma then lost by fall to Chase Roof of Algona (1:20) and pinned Sam Martinez of North Butler (1:40).

Also placing fifth was Bryce Ortega at 285 pounds. He lost by fall to Cohen Reffer of Algona (no time listed), won a decision over JT Kelso of Forest City (4-1) and lost a decision to Max Orchard of Clear Lake (6-4). The senior won the fifth-place match by pinning Brecken Uhlenhopp of North Butler (3:52).

Nathaniel Ball did not place at 138 pounds. He lost by fall to Carter Perry of Clear Lake (no time listed) and to Connor Jenkins of Charles City (3:54).

Also placing for Okoboji/HMS were Tyler Pyle (150), third; Dillon Wittrock (144), fourth; and Myles Lopez (120), Tristan Strantz (157) and Sam Bockman (190), sixth.

Team scores were Algona 236.5, Clear Lake 203, Emmetsburg 163, North Butler 139.5, Charles City 107.5, Forest City 106 and Okoboji/HMS 85.

Okoboji/HMS will compete against Sheldon/South O'Brien and Sibley-Ocheyedan in a Siouxland Conference double dual on Jan. 11 at Sibley.