Taylor Smith, Sports Editor
The (2A) #2 Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys wrestlers got to work last week and rolled through the North Central Conference. They claimed the NCC dual team title on Thursday and then went on to win the NCC Tournament on Saturday.
Thursday night, the mighty Cowboys knocked off (2A) #9 Algona, 49-19, at a triangular in Iowa Falls.
“We had this meet circled on our schedule since last year,” Head Coach Cory Yoder remarked to The Monitor. “We dominated the meet. Our kids were ready, and it showed!”
Estuardo Lopez (113-pounds), Colin Sesker (157), and Easton Beyer (190) all won via technical fall against their Bulldog opponents.
Cole Wibholm (106), Linden Phetxoumphone (132), and JT Kelso (285) all won by fall.
Next, the Cowboys dominated 63-11 over the host Cadets. With that victory, CGD locked in their outright conference dual championship with a perfect 2025-26 record of 8-0.
A few days later, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows turned in a legendary performance at the North Central Conference Tournament held at Humboldt High School.
CGD ran away with the team title with 255 team points.
#9 Algona (209.5 points), Hampton-Dumont-CAL (148.5), #20 Humboldt (128), and Clear Lake (124.5) rounded out the Top-5.
Wibholm, Paxton Redenius (113), Adrian Phetxoumphone (126), Linden Phetxoumphone, Sesker, and Kelso were all individual champions.
Adrian Phetxoumphone, Sesker, and Kelso all repeated as champions.
Ryan Hartwig (138), Dawson Beyer (150), Ryland Morgan (165), and Easton Beyer (175) were all runner-ups in their respective weight classes.
Lopez took bronze at 120-pounds, Reed Campbell finished 4th at 144, and Traesyn Cope was 5th at 215.
“The team scored 255 points,” Coach Yoder marveled. “That’s only 12 points shy of the NCC record of 267. I’m super proud of our kids and their effort. Having ten guys in the finals is an amazing accomplishment, and winning both the dual and tournament NCC conference championships just adds to our accomplishments this season.”
“Now, we turn our focus to regional duals on February 3! Our goal all year has been to win state duals, and our postseason starts now!”
