April 23, 2024

Cardinal grapplers drop close LHC dual

By Jocelyn Sheets

A little cross-face action by Newton sophomore Destin Schroder during an earlier home match this season. Schroder claimed a win in Little Hawkeye Conference dual action on Thursday, pinning Grinnell’s Wyatt Hunter at 170 pounds. Newton lost 42-35 to host Grinnell. (Jocelyn Sheets)

GRINNELL — Newton High’s Cardinal wrestlers built a 26-0 lead over their hosts on Thursday. They just couldn’t sustain the momentum, losing 42-35 to Grinnell’s Tigers in Little Hawkeye Conference action.

The Cardinals led 29-18 then the Tigers won four straight matches by falls. Grinnell took the lead, 42-29.

Newton senior Josh Miravalles did give the Cardinals the final say on the mat. He pinned Levi Fritz in 2:55 of their 160-pound match.

Sophomore Destin Schroder (14-13) opened the LHC dual with a first-round pin of Grinnell’s Wyatt Hunter at 170.

The Cardinals got an 16-1 technical fall early in the third period from senior Blayden Rhone at 182. Rhone ran his season record to 23-10.

At 195, junior Jaise Gulling (24-7) earned a forfeit win. Sophomore Gage Linahon pulled out a 7-3 decision over Grinnell’s Kamrin Stevenson. Newton’s 220-pounder is 26-7.

The 285-pound match went Newton’s way. Senior Landon Hansen put Brett Clayton on his back at the 1:27 mark of the bout.

Then came a run of three Tiger wins by falls to get on the scoreboard. They won the 106, 113 and 120 matches.

Junior Blake Cockerton held off Grinnell’s Alex Farmer at 126. Cockerton had an 8-3 lead going into the third period and won 10-7. That win had Newton up 29-18.

Grinnell won at 132, 138, 145 and 152 to claim the dual victory.

Newton is 2-3 in LHC duals this season. The Cardinals are 6-7 overall.

The Cardinals have one more conference dual and three non-conference duals left on their schedule. They host Dallas Center-Grimes (LHC) and Knoxville at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Cardinal varsity is idle until then. Newton’s junior varsity wrestlers compete in the Colfax-Mingo Duals tournament starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Colfax.

Newton won the two junior varsity matches against Grinnell. At 170, Owen Sanger pinned Kyle Rauch in 1:33. Thomas Cox won by a fall in 1:42 over Max Loveall at 182.

Grinnell 42, Newton 35

170: Destin Schroder (N) over Wyatt Hunter (G) (Fall 1:44) 182: Blayden Rhone (N) over Quaid Pinkerton (G) (TF 16-1 4:25) 195: Jaise Gulling (N) (For.) 220: Gage Linahon (N) over Kamrin Steveson (G) (Dec 7-3) 285: Landon Hansen (N) over Brett Clayton (G) (Fall 1:27) 106: Dalton Gosselink (G) over Anthony Bestell (N) (Fall 1:18) 113: Brock Beck (G) over Reid Kuennen (N) (Fall 0:50) 120: Landon Kirby (G) over James Beck (N) (Fall 0:07) 126: Blake Cockerton (N) over Alex Farmer (G) (Dec 10-7) 132: Ethan Kirby (G) over Canaan Terpstra (N) (Fall 3:27) 138: Eli Rose (G) over Blake Iske (N) (Fall 1:19) 145: Wyatt Dillon (G) over Zane Kohlmeyer (N) (Fall 2:50) 152: Bryson Cline (G) over Bryce Rhone (N) (Fall 1:22) 160: Josh Miravalles (N) over Levi Fritz (G) (Fall 2:55)

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