Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Okoboji/HMS has 2 runner-up finishes at Siouxland tourney

James Gellerman places second at 175 pounds

Two Okoboji/HMS wrestlers were runners-up in their weight classes during the 2024 Siouxland Conference tournament. Sioux Center hosted the meet on Jan. 25.

H-M-S wrestler James Gellerman finished second at 175 pounds. The junior won his opening round match by fall over Cozyn Rozeboom of Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (2:26) and edged Dominic Marco of Sibley-Ocheyedan in the semifinals (6-5). Reid Hulshof of Sioux Center defeated Gellerman in the title match (9-5).

Sophomore Nathan Stofferan placed third at 113 pounds. He pinned Payton Kock of Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (1:21) and lost by fall to Cole Bomgaars of BH/RV in the semifinals (1:03). In the consolation bracket, Stofferan won a decision over Eddie Topete of Sioux Center (10-5) and another over Jackson Van Der Sloot of S-O in the third-place match (4-1).

Senior Bryce Ortega added a fifth-place finish at 285 pounds. He lost by fall to Sam Christensen of CL/G-LR (0:56), pinned Phillip Pottebaum of West Lyon (1:20) and lost a decision to Jesue Garcia of BH/RV (7-3). Ortega received a forfeit to win the fifth-place match.

David Wetrich placed sixth at 215 pounds. The sophomore lost by fall to Braidyn Cihlar of BH/RV (2:21) and Landon Sietstra of Sheldon/South O'Brien (3:00), and lost the fifth-place match by fall to Tommy Wietzema of S-O (1:52).

The other Pioneer to place second was Nathaniel Franklin. He lost the 160-pound title match to Brock Mulder of BH/RV, 5-1.

Finishing fourth were Myles Lopez (120) and Sam Bockman (190). Fifth-place finishers were Dillon Wittrock (144), Tyler Pyle (150) and Alex Rouse (157). Michael Gonnerman placed sixth at 126 pounds.

Okoboji/HMS finished seventh among the eight teams. CL/G-LR won the tournament title with 170 points, BH/RV was second with 161.5 and Sioux Center was third with 151. They were followed by Sibley-Ocheyedan 146, West Lyon 125.5, Sheldon/SOS 124.5, Okoboji/HMS 103 and MOC-Floyd Valley 97.

The Pioneers will compete in the Class 2A district meet on Feb. 10 at Estherville.