Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Pioneers face stiff competition at big wrestling tourney
Wrestlers from nearly 30 teams competed during the two-day Herb Irgens Invitational hosted by OABCIG on Jan. 19-20 at Ida Grove.
Okoboji/HMS finished 18th overall, scoring 46 points. Don Bosco of Gilbertville won the title with 269.5 points, Sergeant Bluff-Luton was second with 178 and Jesup was a close third with 177.
James Gellerman (175 pounds) was the only wrestler from H-M-S to place. He won by fall over Mickael Manzer of East Sac County (no time listed) and won a major decision over Kaleb Pendergast of Sergeant Bluff-Luton (12-3), before losing by fall to Kaiden Knaack of Don Bosco (2:55).
In the consolation bracket, Gellerman defeated David Warrior of Denver (9-3), lost by fall to Reid Hulshof of Sioux Center (1:11) and lost a decision to Rylan DeGroot of Western Christian (8-3) in the seventh-place match.
Nathan Stofferan competed in the 113-pound bracket. He lost by fall to Brodie Starcher of Tonganoxie, Kan. (2:36), won by fall over Wyatt Dumas of Akron-Westfield (1:42) and was pinned by Lane Elmquist of Audubon (no time listed).
In the 215-pound bracket, Ethan Wiersma won by fall over Gavin Remer of OABCIG (3:37), lost by fall to Kyler Sallis of Don Bosco (2:39), and forfeited to Donavon Farrell of Denver in the consolation round.
Bryce Ortega (285) lost a decision to Cody Koepke of Denver (10-4), won by fall over Jacob Kraft of Kingsley-Pierson (3:41) and Cole Comstock of Cherokee (3:28), and lost by fall to Brooks McFarland of Western Christian (0:22).
Nathaniel Franklin was the highest finisher for the Pioneers. He placed fifth in the 165-pound bracket. Michael Gonnerman (126) placed eighth.
Okoboji/HMS will compete at the Siouxland Conference wrestling tournament on Jan. 25 at Sioux Center. Action begins at 5 p.m. The Pioneers will make up the double dual at Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley on Jan. 30.
