Nikes Qualify Six for Class 2A State Wrestling Meet
Posted Feb 12, 2023 12:05 PM
Above: Isaiah Fenton of Notre Dame-West Burlington's wrestling team works on 152-pound finals opponent Jay Mosley of Centerville Saturday in a Class 2A district meet at Washington High School. Fenton won by tech fall, 20-5, in 5:27 to advance to state. Fenton will be joined in Des Moines next Thursday by teammates Carter West, Kael Cook, C.J. Davis, Kaden Dietzenbach, and C.J. Walrath. Photo by Chris Faulkner
By Chris Faulkner
Notre Dame/West Burlington’s wrestling team qualified six wrestlers to state in a Class 2A district tournament Saturday at Washington High School.
Carter West (106), Kaden Dietzenbach (126), Isaiah Fenton (152), and C.J. Walrath (182) all advanced as champions. Kael Cook (113) and C.J. Davis (120) lost in their finals matches but were able to wrestle back and hold second.
The state tournament runs Wednesday, Feb. 15, to Saturday, Feb. 18, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
The Nikes finished second in the team standings with 108.5 points.
ND/WB's West (47-1) slipped into state with a 1-0 decision over Emmitt Nelson of Davis County at 106. The two were scoreless through the first two periods, and West chose down to start the third. But Nelson opted to let West up intentionally. Neither wrestler could gain advantage, and that handed West the narrow victory.
West had drawn a bye in the first round and then pinned Nate Edmonds of Washington in just 45 seconds in the semifinals.
Kaden Dietzenbach (42-1) won at 126 with a pin in 4:18 over previously unbeaten Derrick Bass of Davenport Assumption.He had drawn a bye and then won 17-1 in 2:10 over Robert Howes of Keokuk.
Fenton (35-0) racked up a technical fall in the 152 title match with Jax Mosley of Centerville. He won 20-5 in 5:28. Fenton had drawn a bye in the first round and then needed a mere seven seconds to pin Gavin Kerr of Mount Pleasant.
Walrath (52-0) won both his matches by fall at 182. After getting a bye, he pinned Ryan Messamaker of Centerville in 49 seconds and then pinned Chase Diaz of Assumption in 2:33.
That was his 200th victory of his career.
Cook (40-8) shut out Matt Genobama of Centerville 6-0 for a true second at 113.
He pinned Landon Beckler of Mount Pleasant in the first round in 2:00. He then decisioned Sean Kersten of Assumption 12-7. But he lost to Cael McCabe of Fairfield 5-1 in the title match and had to wrestle back for third.
Davis (47-2) suffered a stunning loss to Aaron Boone of Washington by fall at 120 in the finals. He came back and won a major 10-0 shutout over Rylee Moore of Keokuk to go to state.
Davis drew a bye in the first round. He then won by tech fall, 19-4 in 5:08 over Drake Hamm of Mount Pleasant.
Also for the Nikes:
Lyblie Christofferson settled for third at 160 pounds. To start the day, he beat Luke Farley of Davis County by fall in 1:44 but lost to top-seeded Chase Greiner of Washington 9-0.
Christofferson won in the first consolation match, pinning Kaleb Kreinbring of Davenport Assumption in 48 seconds. For third, he trailed early against Ethan Rose of Keokuk but caught him in a cradle for a fall in 3:20. But Greiner lost in the finals, and Christofferson was unable to wrestle back.
At 132, Cole Mincer beat Ramzy Davis of Mount Pleasant but lost to top seed Cadyn Wild of Assumption in 54 seconds. He then pinned Bain Weeks of Centerville in 3:49, only to lose by fall in the third-place match. Davis County’s Deken Sorensen won by fall in 1:15.
Blake Wilson suffered a close loss at 145 in the semifinals. He and Cason Miller of Fairfield were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. After neither wrestler could get a takedown in the first OT, Wilson took down. Miller earned a two-point nearfall at the end of the first 30-second round. Miller went to the down position but escaped, sending Wilson to the consolations. But he ended up giving up a medical forfeit.
Emry Watson didn’t place at 170. He pinned Christian Ossman-Faline of Mount Pleasant in 3:39. But he lost to Brian Snyder of Centerville in 1:44 and then lost in the consolation round.
Kynnick Christofferson lost both his matches at 138. Youseff Rezbekallah lost twice at 220.
The Nikes had no wrestlers at 195 and 285.
Davenport Assumption won the team title with 189 ½. Following Notre Dame-West Burlington's 150 ½ was Fairfield's 120. Centerville was fourth at 106, Washington was next at 90, followed by Keokuk with 85, Davis County with 71, and Mount Pleasant with 34.