Cardinals overpower Mustangs

NEWTON — Two Jasper County high school wrestling teams squared off in a non-conference dual on Jan. 7 in Newton.

Newton High’s Cardinals proved too much for the visiting Prairie City-Monroe Mustangs. The Cardinals won the first 12 matches for a 71-0 lead on their way to a 71-10 victory.

The Mustangs claimed the final two matches — a pin by Class 2A 10th-ranked Payton Drake over Newton’s Colin Sharp and a major decision (15-4) by Brian Nicholson over Newton’s Damien Bayles. That was the only match that went the full six minutes on the mat.

“We knew this would be a tough dual to win. This whole year it has been hard to fill our lineup,” PCM head coach Jeff Nicholson said as the Mustangs dropped to 0-18 in duals. “We have some guys not ready to go yet. We have some young guys getting matches.”

PCM was without several key athletes, Nicholson said, including state-ranked Colby Tool. According to Nicholson, the 152-pound junior was not ready for competition working back from a leg injury suffered late in the football season.

Newton notched five forfeit wins — Canaan Terpstra (152), 3A fifth-ranked Destin Schroder (182), Kinzie Hardin (113), Kaden Holmes (126) and Brennan Amos (132).

The Cardinals got an 18-3 technical fall victory from Avery White over PCM’s Alex Courtney at 106.

“I didn’t see much I liked out of our kids tonight. We came out flat,” Nicholson said after the dual. “There were some good things and things we can take from this match.”

Newton’s Zane Kohlmeyer pinned William Vanderpool in 52 seconds at 160 in the first contest match of the night. Newton’s Blake Iske won by fall at 170 over Zeb Padget then the Cardinals got a pin from Owen Sanger over Cooper Sloan at 195.

Newton’s Class 3A fifth-ranked Gage Linahon pinned PCM’s Donovan Nickelson at 220. William Muckler handled PCM’s Jace Smith, pinning him in 3:45 at 285 pounds.

“We won the final two matches but there were three others I felt we should have been competitive in and we weren’t. I want to see us wrestle with more heart,” Nicholson said.

Muckler and Smith had a scoreless first period.

Muckler scored on an escape in the second period then got a takedown and pinned Smith.

Two matches later, Anthony Bestell had Newton’s final pin of the night. He scored it just before the end of the first period of the 120-pound bout against Cody Courtney.

Sharp came out strong against Drake at 138 pounds. He caught Drake in a throw to his back for a 4-0 lead. Drake regrouped for a reversal then pinned Sharp in the first period.

“Landon Fenton was part way down to 132 for this dual and Payton was at 138 for the first time this season. We’re getting some guys in places to make us a little tougher.”