Okoboji/HMS finished ninth in a large 25-team field at the Herb Irgens Invitational conducted January 21 and 22 at Ida Grove. The event, hosted by OA-BCIG, included a team from Tonganoxie, KS which placed third. Perennial Iowa power Don Bosco (Gilbertville) won the Invite with 245.5 points. Sergeant Bluff-Luton was second with a 208.5 total. Okoboji/HMS totaled 94 points.
Tyce Hanson placed first for the Pioneers at 113 pounds. Noah Strantz was second at 152.
Heavyweight Nick Bronstad finished in fourth place. He made his way to the semifinals by pinning Carroll’s Colton Wieland in 1:53 and defeating Mack Ortner of Don Bosco 1-0. The semifinal match was in the third period when Bronstad was pinned by Solon’s Gage Marty, the time being 4:50. Bronstad earned his way to the 3rd Place Match by pinning Cael Moffatt of Akron-Westfield in 3:03. Awaiting Bronstad was a familiar foe, Sioux Center’s Ethan Hooyer. The Warrior senior won the match by a 5-0 decision.
James Gellerman captured his opening match in the 182-pound bracket. He won by fall over Adin Verschoor of Kingsley-Pierson in 1:22. He then lost twice by fall, to Tonganoxie’s Gabrial Bailey in 3:03 and to Emmit Fleshman of West Lyon in 52 seconds.
Bryce Dodge suffered pins in his only two matches at 170 pounds. He lost by fall to Zach Hemer of OA-BCIG in 1:29 and to Carroll’s Sterling Rodman in 2:51.
At 195 pounds Ethan Wiersma was pinned by Akron-Westfield’s Ian Blowe in 1:54. He lost by technical fall to Reece Clausen of Sergeant Bluff-Luton in 4:00.
Team Scores
Don Bosco 245.5, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 208.5, Tonganoxie (KS) 160, Carroll 137.5, West Hancock 136, West Lyon 134.5, Solon 108, Akron-Westfield 96.5, Okoboji/HMS 94, South Central Calhoun 93.5, Sioux Center 79, Southeast Valley 78.5, Kingsley-Pierson 51, Pocahontas Area 50, OA-BCIG 46.5, Woodbury Central 39.5, Audubon 31, Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 30.5, Lawton-Bronson 27, Sibley-Ocheyedan 26.5, Western Christian 19.5, Ridge View 19, Cherokee 12, East Sac County 11, Woodbine 9.
HMS Wrestlers Individual Results
170-Bryce Dodge (did not place) – Champ. Round 2 – lost by fall to Zach Hemer (OA-BCIG) in 1:29; Cons. Round 3 – lost by fall to Sterling Rodman (Carroll) in 2:51.
182-James Gellerman (did not place) – Champ. Round 2 – won by fall over Adin Verschoor (Kingsley-Piersen) in 1:22; Quarterfinal – lost by fall to Gabriel Bailey (Tonganoxie) in 3:03; Cons. Round 4 – lost by fall to Emmit Fleshman (West Lyon) in :52.