Taylor Smith, Sports Editor
Blizzard conditions prevented the #1 (2A) Clarion-Goldfield-Dows boys wrestling team from competing in a conference triangular on Thursday in Iowa Falls, but the team was still able to make it to Black Hawk County on Friday for the 15th annual Battle of Waterloo.
On Friday, the shorthanded Cowboys finished 1st in Bracket B after defeating three much larger schools.
“Our kids wrestled fantastic on Friday morning and beat Charles City, Ankeny, and Pleasant Valley,” Coach Cory Yoder told The Monitor after The Battle of Waterloo. “The team came out focused and ready to go with a dominating win over Charles City (77-3). We had a hard fought win over Ankeny (41-31), and a big win over #2 seed Pleasant Valley (37-31). Adam Hodson was the hero of the meet, coming in and getting a big fall that secured the win for the Cowboys!”
The next day, the Cowboys placed 4th out of 4 teams in the Championship Pool.
“On Saturday, the competition was ramped up,” Coach Yoder continued. “We started with a match-up with #1 Don Bosco (1A). We fell short, 37-36. The final two duals were against 3A powers #1 Southeast Polk and #2 Indianola. We fell in both 46-23 and 50-16. I’m super proud of the kids and their effort this weekend, finishing 4th out of 32 teams in the toughest dual tournament in the state.”
“We put a stamp on who should be #1 in the state this weekend,” Coach Yoder remarked in closing. “We have been shorthanded with injuries and still have beaten the top teams in 2A. It will be a dogfight all season long between the top-5 teams in our class, but at this point in the season, we have proven we are best dual team and tournament team.”
Linden Phetxoumphone (132) had five pins on the weekend and finished 5-1. Adrian Phetxoumphone (138) went a perfect 4-0, and Colin Sesker (165/175) and Paxton Redenius both finished with three falls apiece.
Cole Wibholm (106/113) and Ryan Hartwig (138/144) both went 3-2 over the weekend, and Redenius was 4-2 at 120 and 126.
Dawson Beyer (157) finished 4-2 and Easton Beyer (190) was undefeated.
Your Cowboys return to action on January 6th with a conference triangular against Webster City and Hampton-Dumont-CAL in Webster City.
