NHS wrestlers fall in 3A regional duals

INDIANOLA — Down 34-3 to the 11th-ranked Glenwood in Wednesday’s Class 3A Regional Duals semifinal, Newton High’s Cardinals needed a boost.

They got it in the second period of the 285-pound match.

Newton junior Landon Hansen weathered the first period against Glenwood’s second-ranked junior Caleb Sanders with no points scored. Sanders scored a point with an escape in the second period then Hansen found his shot.

“Landon caught his guy and threw him right into a pin,” Newton head coach Andy Swedenhjelm said.

Hansen pinned Sanders at the 3:32 mark of the match. It started a run of match victories for Newton, which won five of the final six. Unfortunately, the Rams had built a lead the Cardinals couldn’t overcome.

Newton lost 40-32 to bow out of the regional duals competition. Glenwood took on host Indianola, which is ranked seventh in duals, for the regional title.

Glenwood led Indianola, 20-12, but it took a total of 3:40 of mat time for the Indians to win the final five matches by pins to win 42-20. Indianola advances to the 3A state duals tournament.

“Landon did a great job in his match wrestling tough. At this point of the year, anything can happen in a match. You just have to be ready for your moment and approach every match with confidence,” Swedenhjelm said.

The Rams posted wins in the first four matches starting at 138. Newton got on the scoreboard in a close 170-pound match won by senior Tanner Petro, 8-6.

Petro was down 6-2 after one period against Glenwood’s Brett Mower. Petro closed the gap in the second period with a three-point near fall. Trailing 6-5, Petro used an escape and a takedown in the third period to win by two points.

After Hansen’s win, Newton was down 34-9, and Glenwood won its final match of the dual by a forfeit at 106.

Sophomore Blake Cockerton built an 8-1 lead over Glenwood’s Dalton Bell then pinned him at the 2:16 mark at 113. Newton’s freshman Blake Iske was up 6-0 on the Rams’ Dalton Book in their 120-pound match and won by a fall late in the second period.

In the 126-pound match, Newton junior Ross Hull turned Jonathan Riemann every which way but loose. Hull recorded a 16-0 technical fall at the 3:04 mark of the match.

Sophomore Joseph Carolus was up for Newton in the final match of the dual. He delivered a pin in 3:09 of Glenwood’s Jack Finn at 132 pounds.

“We did a pretty good job overall. Glenwood is a tough team and their upper weights stack up with anyone’s in the state,” Swedenhjelm said. “I was proud of the way we went out there and competed. Even the guys who didn’t have the result they were looking for, wrestled tough and didn’t give up bonus points.”

Freshman Zane Kohlmeyer stepped on the mat for Newton to open the dual at 138 and was pinned by Trevor Stanley in 3:57. Newton senior Jon Lawton stayed with 10th-ranked Trevor Anderson into the third period, but lost by a 20-5 technical fall in the 145-pound match.

At 152, junior Tristin Langmaid lost 7-0 to Glenwood’s Jordan Renshaw then Glenwood won the 160 pound match with a forfeit.

Following Petro’s victory at 170, Newton junior Blayden Rhone faced the Rams’ second-ranked Anthony Sherry in the 182-pound and was pinned in 3:35.

Sixth-ranked Isaac Bales scored a 15-5 major decision over Newton sophomore Jaise Gulling at 195. Senior Alex Miller stayed with Glenwood’s third-ranked Zach Haggstrom at 220, but lost by a 15-4 major decision.

The Cardinal wrestlers have two days to finish preparing for Saturday’s Class 3A District 7 Tournament. Matches begin at noon at Waukee.

Second-ranked Valley leads the teams in the district with Newton. The other teams are Dowling Catholic, Waukee, Carlisle, Des Moines East, Des Moines Roosevelt and Urbandale. There are 18 ranked wrestlers scattered throughout the 14 weight divisions.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
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