March 28, 2024

Short-handed PCM struggles at Centennial dual tourney

ANKENY — Not having two of its best wrestlers at the back end of the lineup Saturday plagued the Prairie City-Monroe wrestling team at the Ankeny Centennial dual tournament.

Seniors Ron Marshall (170) and Jaret Maggard (182) are both 7-2 on the season but neither was available Saturday because of ACT testing.

That affected the Mustangs’ lineup in a big way as PCM went 0-5 on the day, suffering losses to Ankeny Centennial (66-16), Southeast Polk (78-6), Ottumwa (64-15), Oskaloosa (48-24) and Dubuque Hempstead (72-7).

The two bright spots on the day came from sophomore Xavier Miller at 120 and senior Tristan Clark at 126.

Clark, ranked No. 7 in Class 2A, improved to 13-0 on the season with five more wins Saturday. He had three pins and defeated two ranked opponents in his final two matches of the day.

Clark beat 3A No. 8 Nathan Feldman of Dubuque Hempstead, 4-2, in Sudden Victory and then dispatched of Oskaloosa’s Drew Sams 8-4. Sams is ranked No. 8 at 120 pounds.

Miller suffered his first loss of the season when Southeast Polk’s Austin Brommel pinned him in the second period. He bounced back nicely though, winning two matches by fall and two others by major decision. He is now 12-1 on the year.

Besides Miller and Clark, the wins were hard to come by.

Leevi Telfer won his 220-pound match by fall in the opener against the Jaguars and Trent Malone also won his heavyweight match against Ottumwa by decision.

The most competitive dual of the day for the Mustangs came against Oskaloosa. PCM scored 24 points and got wins from Miller, Clark, James Maggard (145), Clayton Welch (195) and Chace Palm (106).

PCM closes out 2014 with a road triangular at Nevada against the Cubs and Roland-Story at 6 p.m. Thursday and at the North Polk Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday.