Cardinal wrestlers ready to hit the mat in 2014-15

Getting a taste of what a state tournament is all about, Newton High seniors J.T. Thongvanh and Dakota Dawson and junior Hunter Versteegh are back in the NHS wrestling room working hard. They are among 24 returning wrestlers to the Cardinal team for 2014-15.

“It is nice to have three returning state qualifiers in our lineup,” said second-year head coach Andy Swedenhjelm. “This team has high expectations for this season. Only at 106 do we not have an experienced wrestler back. We’ve seen kids make big strides in the weight room.”

Thongvanh was Newton’s Class 3A district champion at 170 pounds. He went on to claim the eighth-place medal at the 2014 3A state tournament. He finished with an 18-11 record. He earned All-Hawkeye Conference honors with a third-place finish at the conference tournament.

Dawson had lost out on a trip to state as a sophomore, but as a junior, he captured second at 138 pounds at the district tournament, qualifying for the state tournament, Dawson went 1-2 at state finishing with a 22-7 record.

Versteegh earned his way to state at 113 pounds, winning a wrestle-back match for second at district. Versteegh, who was Newton’s Little Hawkeye Conference champion at 113, went 1-2 at the state tournament. He finished with a 26-13 record.

All three are back at their respective weight classes ready for another run to the Class 3A state tournament.

“I know there’s a lot of tough guys out there I’ll have to try and beat this year. I learned how to focus more and prepare for what’s coming this year,” Thongvanh said. “The team is helping each other out this year, which will have a big impact on the team as a whole. We’re working on shooting for takedowns and being aggressive on our feet and when we’re in the bottom position.”

Dawson called the Cardinal team a group of brothers and Versteegh agreed.

“Like Dakota said, we’re brothers and when one’s down, we are there to pick him up. It’s going pretty well in the wrestling room,” Versteegh said. “I’m working hard to get on that podium and the only way you can get to state is to work hard and don’t let people get you down.”

“‘We have a new team and a bunch of new guys. It’s a fun experience,” Dawson said. “I’m going all out. This is my last year and the last go. I want it to be special.”

Dawson and Versteegh earned all-conference honors as did junior Bryce Tish, who was third in his weight class. Tish went 15-18 a year ago, placing fourth at 132 at the district tournament. Tish has moved up to the 145-pound weight class.

Also back are juniors Alex Bentley at 120, Parker Schuster at 126, Cole Peters at 132, Duncan Lee at 182 and Jordan Henning at 195. Senior Brett Wolf will see action at 152 pounds or at 160. Sophomores Peyton Patterson, Caden Manning and Lucas Montgomery bring experience back to the 170, 220 and 285 divisions, respectively, for the Cardinals.

Juniors Harley Walker and Nick Geerlings return on the mat at 152 pounds. Sophomores Aren Sorenson, Jonathon Lawton, Tanner Petro, Noah Hammer, Reed Shepard, Caleb Kite, Logan Ziber and Justice Borger give the Cardinals depth.

“We have good quality depth on the team with a lot of kids who have put a lot of time and effort in the offseason,” Swedenhjelm said. “We are excited to see the gains they have made in the weight room and summer wrestling translate to results on the mat.”

Newton has a good group of freshmen on the team along with newcomers Anthony Garret, a junior, and sophomores Dennis Fields and Kirsten Young. Freshmen on the team are Ross Hull, Bryce Rhone, Josh Miravalles, Jack Callaghan, Reece Thurmond, Logan Wolfe, Tristin Langmaid, Blayden Rhone, Remington Lillo and Chase Healey.

Swedenhjelm said as hard as the Newton athletes have been working, the team still has very few finished products in the wrestling room. He said it was nice to have a good senior class last year to show the younger wrestlers the way to be successful.

“We will probably have a few growing pains along the road,” Swedenhjelm said. “Some key dates for us to measure ourselves out of conference include the Council Bluffs Classic on Dec. 12-13, and the Bettendorf Invitational, Jan. 16-17.

“Both of these tournaments will be among the toughest in the state, featuring many wrestlers not only ranked in the state, but also the nation. We have a lot of bright young wrestlers, so I am hoping to see a lot of growth.”

The Little Hawkeye Conference will be tough as always, Swedenhjelm said. He considers that a plus for the Cardinals as it makes the Cardinal wrestlers stronger, so they will be prepare for the district meet.

Newton opens the 2014-15 season at Knoxville Dec. 4. The Cardinals host the Newton Invitational Dec. 6.

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