Senior leadership guides young Lynnville-Sully wrestling team

SULLY — Leaders by example and deed are senior wrestlers Noah Zylstra and Cole Nickel. The two veterans of the Lynnville-Sully wrestling team are on individual missions along with leading the Hawk team to a strong 2014-15 season.

“We’re looking pretty good as a team in practices. We should have a full team with a lot of young guys,” Zylstra said. “Most of those younger guys have experience. Everyone is working hard in the (practice) room.”

Zylstra and Nickel are the lone seniors on the Hawk wrestling team, which has 15 members on it. Lynnville-Sully head coach Steve Northcutt said he was pleased with what he has seen in the first week of practices from the Hawks.

“Noah and Cole are good leaders in the room. We have seven others returning from last year. Those are juniors and sophomores. We have a good group of incoming freshmen,” Northcutt said. “They will take their lumps this year, but I wouldn’t overlook them in matches either.”

Zylstra and Nickel are both three-year starters on the wrestling team. Zylstra finished 36-10, taking third at the Class 1A sectional in the 170-pound class a year ago. Nickel placed second at the sectionals and moved into district competition. Nickel took fourth at the district ending with a 32-11 record at 113.

“We’re all striving to qualify for state. I’m looking to wrestle at 113 again,” Nickel said. “I’m out to reach my 100th career win this season. I need 28 more wins to reach that goal. We have young people but there’s great potential as a team.”

Northcutt said Zylstra will probably move up to the 182 weight class with junior Jack Hardin stepping in to the 170-pound slot. Hardin has wrestled up weight classes the past two seasons. He finished at 18-23, taking fifth at the sectional in the 182-pound division.

“Noah has worked hard in the off season to put on muscle weight. Jack should have a strong season wrestling in his natural weight class,” Northcutt said.

“I’m looking to be a state qualifier. I just have to push myself hard in and out of the room,” Zylstra said.

Besides Hardin, the Hawks return juniors Colton Roorda at 120, Kyle Kramer at 152 and Cooper Scandridge at 220 and sophomores Caden Dunsbergen, at 138, Bryson Barnett at 145 and Shannon Dunsbergen at 285. Freshmen on the team are Josh Dunsbergen at 106, Sage Zylstra at 126, Carson Dunsbergen at 132, Caydon Johnson at 145 and Aaron Vandekrol at 195. Junior Aaron Johnson, a 220-pounder, is a first-time wrestler.

Northcutt said Roorda had a tough time last year with injury and illness. If he stays healthy, Northcutt said they look for Rooda to have a good season. Caden Dunsbergen learned a lot as a freshman, taking third at the sectionals at the 126-pound weight, Northcutt said.

“Caden really started wrestling well halfway through the season,” Northcutt said. “Our other district qualifier last year was Shannon, who took fourth as our heavyweight. Shannon won some big matches at the end of the year and that should propel him into this season.”

Barnett and Kramer split time on the varsity level a year ago at their respective weights. Both are expected to fill full-time spots this season after coming in in good shape. Scandridge has potential to be good at 220, Northcutt said, “if we can get him to come out of his shell.”

Northcutt said the freshmen have impressed him with their work ethic in the wrestling room so far, as has Johnson. He said the four freshmen have wrestled quite a bit, worked hard at the junior high level to be ready to step up to the high school competition.

“We have a young team, but I’m excited about the potential we have in the room,” Northcutt said.

The Hawks open the wrestling season Tuesday in a quadrangular hosted by BGM at Brooklyn.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com