Okoboji/HMS was one of 27 teams wrestling in the Herb Irgens Invitational held January 19 and 20 at Ida Grove and hosted by OABCIG. The Pioneers were 18th with 46 team points. The winner was powerhouse Don Bosco, which amassed 269.5 points. Runner-up was Sergeant Bluff-Luton at 178.
Athletes from HMS wrestling at the Invite were Nathan Stofferan at 113, James Gellerman at 175, Ethan Wiersma at 215 and Bryce Ortega at 285. Gellerman was the only one of the four to place, finishing eighth.
Team Scores
Don Bosco 269.5, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 178, Jesup 177.5, Solon 156, Tonganoxie (KS) 131, Sioux Center 124, Carroll 120, Emmetsburg 115, Denver 108.5, Akron-Westfield 95, Sibley-Ocheyedan 66, West Lyon 63, Woodbury Central 60.5, Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 59. Pocahontas Area 49, OABCIG 47, Ridge View 47, Okoboji/HMS 46, Cherokee 38, East Sac County 38, Kingsley-Pierson 36, Western Christian 36, Lawton-Bronson 33, South Central Calhoun 32, Woodbine 18, Audubon 17.5, Southeast Valley 5.
Results for HMS Wrestlers
113-Nathan Stofferan (did not place) – Champ. Round 2 – lost by fall to Brodie Starcher (Tonganoxie) in 2:36; Cons. Round 3 – won by fall over Wyatt Dumas (Akron-Westfield) in 1:42; Cons. Round 4 – lost by fall to Lane Elmquist (Audubon).
175-James Gellerman (eighth place) – Champ. Round 1 – won by fall over Mickael Manzer (East Sac County); Champ. Round 2 – won by a 12-3 major decision over Kaleb Pendergast (Sergeant Bluff-Luton); Quarterfinal – lost by fall to Kaiden Knaack (Don Bosco) in 2:55; Cons. Round 4 – won a 9-3 decision over David Warrior (Denver); Cons. Round 5 – lost by fall to Reid Hulshof (Sioux Center) in 1:11; 7th Place Match – lost an 8-3 decision to Rylan DeGroot (Western Christian).
215-Ethan Wiersma (did not place) – Champ. Round 1 – won by fall over Gavin Remer (OABCIG) in 3:37; Champ. Round 2 – lost by fall to Kyler Sallis (Don Bosco) in 2:39; Cons. Round 2 – lost by forfeit to Donavon Farrell (Denver).
285-Bryce Ortega (did not place) – Champ. Round 2 – lost a 10-4 decision to Cody Koepke (Denver); Cons. Round 2 – won by fall over Jacob Kraft (Kingsley-Pierson) in 4:31; Cons. Round 3 – won by fall over Cole Comstock (Cherokee) in 3:28; Cons. Round 4 – lost by fall to Brooks McFarland (Western Christian) in :22.