As Iola High’s wrestling season hits its home stretch, Brad Carson would be hard pressed to be any happier than he was Thursday.
The Mustangs wrestled at home Thursday for the first and only time this season, in front of a large, boisterous crowd cheering along with every match.
“This was a good night — a fun night,” Carson said. “And I wasn’t even looking at the scores. I was more interested in seeing how each guy performed, and I saw a lot of guys doing things we’d been preaching on practice.”
Because Iola does not have a wrestler lighter than 138 pounds, the Mustangs found themselves at an immediate disadvantage on the team scoreboard. Iola lost, 48-36, despite winning five of seven contested matches against Osawatomie.
The Mustangs rebounded to defeat West Elk, 30-26, while winning five of its eight matches.
In its finale, Iola split eight matches against Burlington — a school added to the competition at the last minute — in losing, 49-18, when accounting for forfeits.
Iola had several individual standouts.
Seniors Michael Armstrong, John Whitworth and Bryce Misenhelter all went 3-0 on the night, as did sophomore Andrew Garber.
Armstrong pinned all three of his opponents, as did Whitworth. Misenhelter and Garber both had two pins before winning on points in their final matches.
Misenhelter defeated Burlington’s Joe Metzger, 3-0, in their third match of the season. Misenhelter got an escape point early in the second period, then got a two-point takedown in the final seconds of the match as Metzger lunged unsuccessfully for a takedown of his own.
The win keeps Misenhelter undefeated at 195 pounds on the season.
“He’s a tough wrestler,” Misenhelter said. “Matches like this can help every now and then.”
Misenhelter continues to embrace wrestling at 195 pounds, after qualifying last year for state at 182 pounds.
“The guys are a little bigger, but slower, than the guys I wrestled at 182 pounds,” he said. “I can’t throw them around like I could at 182. I like it.”
“I THOUGHT IT was good for Michael Armstrong and John Whitworth to have big nights,” Carson said. “John needed his mojo, his confidence, back. Andrew continues to get better as well. He always works hard and does the little things we talk about in practice. Tavon didn’t win all of his matches, but he really showed me some things out there. He had some tough competition.”
Burlington requested to be a part of the duals after wintry weather forced several postponements last weekend, leaving some schools in search of late-season competition.
“They asked if they could crash our party, and we said ‘certainly,’” Carson said. “We were glad to have them. It made it a fun night for everyone.”
Iola returns to action today with a tournament in Silver Lake.
Osawatomie 48, Iola 36
106 — James Clement (O) wins via forfeit
113 — Seth Hampton (O) wins via forfeit
120 — Kitana Diediker (O) wins via forfeit
126 — Noah Newcomb (O) wins via forfeit
132 — Brendon Chrisjohn (O) wins via forfeit
138 — Michael Armstrong (I) def. Levi Hendrickson (O), pin :50
145 — Tristan Geiger (O) def. Travis Rieske (I), pin 5:35
152 — John Diedeker (O) wins via forfeit
160 — John Whitworth (I) def. Casen Edwards (O), pin 1:00
170 — Tavon Blazek (I) def. Gavin Badders (O), pin 3:30
182 — Andrew Garber (I) def. Cole Wallace (O), pin p5:04
195 — Bryce Misenhelter (I), def. Seth Kingsolver (O), pin 2:38
220 — Tanner Foulk (O) def. Seth Sanford (I), pin 1:42
285 — Colton Toney (I) wins via forfeit
Iola 30, West Elk 26
106 — Dallas Parker (W) wins via forfeit
113 — Open
120 — Drake Champagne (W) wins via forfeit
126 — Open
132 — Open
138 — Open
145 — Michael Armstrong (I) def. Jon Andrews (W), pin 2:25
152 — Travis Rieske (I) def. Moriah Gillespie (W), pin 1:15
160 — John Whitworth (I) def. Hayden Caughron (W), pin :26
170 — Dayton Noll (W) def. Tavon Blazek (I), pin 2:25
182 — Andrew Garber (I) def. Yancy Wade (W), pin 1:52
195 — Bryce Misenhelter (I) def. Garrett Jones (W), pin :27
220 — Kaleb Lawrence (W) def. Seth Sanford (I), 2-0
285 — Kolvin Berry (W) def. Colton Toney, pin 2:20
Burlington 49, Iola 18
106 — Nathan Skillman (B) wins via forfeit
113 — Open
120 — Connor Rychlec (B) wins via forfeit
126 — James Robinson (B) wins via forfeit
132 — Chris Grames (B) wins via forfeit
138 — Michael Armstrong (I) def. Dane O’Keefe (B), pin 5:26
145 — Hunter Isch (B) def. Travis Rieske (I), 11-2
152 — Courtney Seever (B) wins via forfeit
160 — John Whitworth (I) def. Josh Young (B), pin 2:08
170 — Maxx Serl (B) def. Tavon Blazek (I), 5-2
182 — Andrew Garber (I) def. Nathan Vander Linden (B), 7-2
195 — Bryce Misenhelter (I) def. Joe Metzger (B), 3-0
220 — Gus Farthing (B) def. Seth Sanford, pin 2:44
285 — Alex Carrasco (B) def. Colton Toney, pin 1:52
