March 29, 2024

Conference meet time for NHS wrestlers, swimmers

The Pressbox

It’s conference meet time for Newton wrestlers and swimmers Saturday.

Newton High’s wrestlers head to Oskaloosa for the Little Hawkeye Conference tournament. Seniors Bryce Tish and Duncan Lee are out to bring home weight division titles for the second year in a row. A year ago, Tish won the 145-pound championship and Lee was the LHC 195-pound champion.

They won’t repeat. Oh, both have an opportunity to win championships but not at those weights. Tish moved up to 152 pounds this season. Lee switched to 182 pounds following the holiday break and is ranked No. 8 at 182 in Class 3A.

Senior Hunter Versteegh was second a year ago at 113 pounds. He’s on a mission this season and is sitting on a 32-8 record after two wins Thursday against Dallas Center-Grimes and Knoxville.

“Hunter got a big major decision over a kid (Max Tracy of DCG) who beat him earlier in the year, and he will see at both conference and districts,” Newton head coach Andy Swedenhjelm said. “He did a great job of controlling the match and wrestling in positions that he is comfortable in.”

Swedenhjelm said Lee has done a great job of controlling the position in his matches all the time. It’s not always the flashiest or the prettiest, but he gets the job done, Swedenhjelm said.

Junior Brady Smith made his return to varsity action in Thursday’s final double dual. Swedenhjelm said Smith wrestled two good matches. Tish and senior Cole Peters, who have been hampered by some injuries this season, will be competing in Saturday’s conference meet.

“As long as we take care of business on Saturday, we are in great shape heading into districts,” Swedenhjelm said.

Newton competes in the Class 3A District 5 tournament Feb. 13 with berths in the state tournament on the line.

Newton Cardinal boys’ swimming team heads to Grinnell Saturday for the North Central Swim Conference meet. Events begin at 11 a.m. at Grinnell College.

The Cardinals had three event champions a year ago — the 200-yard medley relay, the 200 freestyle relay and the 100 butterfly. Senior Isaak Webb was the butterfly champion.

Webb, senior Aaron King and sophomore Lucas Warner are back off the two relays. Sophomore Jacob Knoll has been the new fourth swimmer on the two relays this season.

Newton has another week of practice to prepare for the district swim meet at Johnston. The Cardinals will be out to earn berths at the state swim meet Feb. 13 at Marshalltown.

A shout out to my home state — happy birthday Kansas! Friday, Jan. 29, is Kansas Day.

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