Okoboji/HMS traveled to Rockwell City January 4 to participate in a wrestling quad hosted by South Central Calhoun. The Pioneers opened with a narrow 42-39 loss to Woodbury Central. The host Titans topped Okoboji/HMS 50-30. The Pioneers were able to leave town with one win as they defeated Alta/Aurelia 60-23.
A quartet of wrestlers from HMS took part in all three duals.
Heavyweight Nick Bronstand picked up a pair of wins by forfeit before getting a chance to wrestle. Bronstad pinned Alta/Aurelia’s Angel Barajas in 42 seconds.
At 182 pounds it took James Gellerman 42 seconds to pin the Wildcats’ Kaleb Brosamle. Blake McAlister of South Central Calhoun won by fall over Gellerman in 1:18. Gellerman rebounded in the Alta/Aurelia dual by pinning the Warriors’ Derek Baker in 30 seconds.
Ethan Wiersma, wrestling at 195 pounds, also went 2-1 on the night. He began evening by winning a 16-10 decision over Ashton Libke of Woodbury Central. South Central Calhoun provided a stumbling block for another Okoboji/HMS grappler as the Titans’ Levi Evanoski won a 17-9 major decision over Wiersma. As with Gellerman, Alta/Aurelia provided Wiersma with a return to the winning side of the ledger. Wiersma won by fall over the Warriors’ Allen Brenner in 2:51.
All three of Jack Mastbergen’s matches ended with the 132-pounder being pinned. The Wildcats’ Ryder Koele got the job done in 24 seconds. It took Brock Nattress of South Central Calhoun 55 seconds to record his pin. Mastbergen’s loss by fall to Alta Aurelia’s
Hayden Garlow came at the 1:01 mark.