March 18, 2024

Mustangs earn split on Senior Night

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MONROE — Class 2A No. 5 Tristan Clark did not wrestle past the first round of either of his two matches during a Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference triangular on Thursday night.

And that wasn’t a good enough workout for him.

Clark recorded two pins on the mat and then went through a full practice workout at the end of the night as the Prairie City-Monroe wrestling team went 1-1 on Senior Night.

Clark, Ron Marshall and Trent Malone all went 2-0 in the final home duals of their prep careers, but Greene County spoiled the Mustangs’ attempt at a HOIAC sweep.

The Rams broke an 18-all tie with three straight pins and then held off PCM, 42-30, but the Mustangs finished the night with a 54-22 victory over Colfax-Mingo.

Greene County (10-9 overall, 5-4 in HOIAC) was 2-0 on the night after its 60-15 win over the Tigerhawks.

“I thought we gave away the match against Greene County,” PCM coach Cory Waddell said. “But this is who we are. Sometimes, we beat people we shouldn’t and we lose to people we shouldn’t. We have our three hammers, but you never know what is going to happen with everyone else.”

Clark continues to work his way toward a new school record for wins in a season.

The two victories Thursday puts him at 39 and two more would tie the all-time best mark for a season at PCM.

Clark is now 39-2 on the year and has 123 career wins, which ranks third all-time at the school.

“Tristan is the first one at practice and the last one to leave,” Waddell said. “He’ll go through a full workout tonight after the meet. He is the most driven wrestler I have ever coached.”

Marshall’s two wins at 170 pushes his season record to 28-4 and Miller is now 32-4. Malone improved to 24-20 and will likely claim the first winning record of his career.

Miller received a forfeit win against Colfax-Mingo and lost to 2A No. 10 Abe Yoder, 7-2, in the opener.

PCM’s other two senior starters who were recognized before the meet were Skyler Koder (160) and Jaret Maggard (182). Both finished 1-1 on the night.

The Mustangs (11-15, 5-5) and Rams were tied at 18 through eight matches.

But Greene County finished by winning four of the final six, all by falls, to win by 12. Luke Kramer (152) and Chace Palm (113) both took forfeits for PCM.

Colfax-Mingo (8-23, 0-8) led PCM 16-6 after four matches. Richard Blom (24-10) earned a pin at 138, Colton Lourens (145) took a forfeit and Will Dunsbergen (152) defeated Kramer, 10-0, but the Mustangs won the next six contests — four by forfeit and two by fall — and won easily.

The other Tigerhawk win came from Ty Carlson, who pinned Jakeb Fenton in the first period.

Carlson and Dunsbergen also won their matches by forfeit against Greene County.

First-year wrestler Ben Mead, a sophomore, was the only Tigerhawk to win a contested match against the Rams. He recorded a 5-1 decision over George Zito.

“He kind of sensed that he had the size advantage and put himself in position to use it,” Colfax-Mingo coach Bryan Poulter said. “He is a first-year wrestler and taking away mistakes is key for him. He did a good job with that for 6 minutes.”

The Tigerhawks forfeited 10 matches between the two duals, and Poulter could have forfeited a few others. Instead, he decided to let his young squad get valuable mat experience against some of Greene County and PCM’s top wrestlers.

“It could have been easy to just forfeit those matches involving Adam Tead and Jake Dunsbergen, but I thought it would be good for them to get some mat time against quality opponents,” Poulter said. “You try to have somewhat of a handle of their mental state. It depends on the wrestler, too. Are you coming to practice and trying to get better or are you there just watching the clock and waiting for the year to be over?

“Adam and Jake have both maintained a good attitude and they understand what they are up against.”

Notebook

Dakota Timmins (injured) and managers Rilee Proffit and Ashlyn Breckenridge also were recognized on Senior Night. ... Poulter said three of the wrestlers he lost because of academics are on track to return to the lineup when the Tigerhawks head to BGM for sectionals on Feb. 7. … PCM sophomore Leevi Telfer qualified for the state speech competition and will not be available at 220 pounds when PCM heads to Centerville for its sectional on Feb. 7. Telfer missed Thursday’s triangular because of a “skin condition.” … Colfax-Mingo graduates John and Jeremy Holdefer were brothers on different teams Thursday. John is an assistant coach at PCM, while Jeremy coaches at his alma mater, Colfax-Mingo.