Bulldog Wrestlers Return to Action after Break

Mother nature will not leave the Hampton-Dumont-CAL wrestlers alone this winter.  The Bulldogs were supposed to host a quadrangular this past Tuesday, but the ice storm forced the meet to be canceled.  The Bulldogs would wrestle two more tough events though against a few of the top teams in class 2A.  Coach Hansen says the wrestlers are preparing for the final stretch of the season and many are ready for a breakout.

The Bulldogs traveled to Webster City for an NCC dual against the Lynx on Thursday January 5th where the Bulldogs and Lynx would connect and have some youth wrestlers competing against each other from their respective schools.  The Bulldogs and Lynx meet had JV matches going the same time the youth wrestlers competed, then moving into the varsity matchup.  The duals started at 160 pounds, and the Bulldogs lost the first two matches, with Karter Janssen and Sean Heilskov both getting pinned by their Lynx opponents.  Cael Burmester would get the Bulldogs on the board though with a 6-5 decision over Burnette-Bingham.  Maddon Evans and Hector Bunston then faced off with two of the top wrestlers at their respective weights and both gave up quick pins.  Carter Heilskov would get the Bulldogs back on track however with a dominant 4-0 victory.  With the weight turning over to 106, the Bulldogs trailed 24-6.  A much anticipated ranked match-up at 106 did not happen though and the Lynx would take the forfeit at that weight.  Jayson Stevens took the mat at 113, earning the Bulldogs their first pin of the evening with a big neck whip.  The pin would bring the score to 30-12.  Jaymes Stevens then fell at 120 to number 1 ranked Carson Doolittle of Webster City.  Next up Brody Strother earned a tough fought 7-6 win and Charlie Showalter followed that performance up with a first period pin.  Gage Plagge would lose his decision, but Taylor Mahler would answer by winning a decision of his own.  The final match of the night saw Colin Bird losing by technical fall and the Bulldogs ultimately losing the dual to the 7th ranked Lynx 44-24.

Saturday saw the Bulldogs travel to Cresco for the Flanagan Invitational where they would meet The Crestwood Cadets, a highly ranked team with numerous ranked wrestlers.  The Stevens brothers would both wrestle in the tournament at 113 pounds but Jaymes would be the only Bulldog wrestler to finish the tournament 0-2.  Jayson Stevens was the first seed and racked up two quick pins in his first two matches.  This would set up a match with 7th ranked Carter Schmauss of Crestwood at 113 pounds.  Stevens dominated the first 5 minutes of the match building a 5-1 lead, but Schmauss stormed back, but Stevens held on, earning both a 7-5 victory and the tournament championship.  Freshman, Brody Strother would be the second Bulldog finalist of the day, pinning his way to the finals.  Starting his finals match he would secure an early takedown and cruise to a 6-2 victory.  Charlie Showalter would drop his semi-finals match, but wrestled back to claim third place.  Wrestlers Chase Johnson and Gage Plagge both went 2-2 in the tournament.  Johnson would finish in 4th place, with Plagge following at 5th.  At 145 pounds, Taylor Mahler would lose his semi-finals match on a controversial call, but Mahler bounced back to finish in 3rd place.  Colin Bird would go 1-2 on the day and finish in 4th place.  Karter Janssen would wrestle tough and go 2-2 earning him 5th place.  Sean Heilskov also went 1-2 on the day while finishing in 4th place.  Cael Burmester would be the third Bulldog to wear the red finals singlet, but dropped a close match.  The final score would be 9-2, but Burmester went for a desperation throw and ended up on his back, giving up 5 late points in the process.  Burmester finished 2nd in the tournament.  Hector Bunston would finish the day 1-2 at 220 pounds and finish in 4th place and Carter Heilskov would be the fourth Bulldog finalist.  Heilskov would dominate the tournament by not wrestling in the second period the entire day, with his finals match being against a 9th ranked wrestler from Dubuque Senior.  Heilskov would continue his hot streak with an inside trip that took his opponent to the mat, earning him the pin.  Heilskov’s dominant day would earn him “Outstanding Wrestler” for the tournament as well.  The Bulldogs would go on to finish second as a team behind Cresco in the final tally.  

The Bulldog wrestlers continue a busy second half of the season next week with their final home dual of the season Tuesday, January 10th.  The Bulldogs will wrestle with the Mason City Redhawks, but have added the Ballard Bombers and Humboldt Wildcats also.  Thursday January 12th, the Bulldogs travel to Clear Lake to take on the Lions and the Gaels in NCC duals.  Saturday the Bulldogs head to New Hampton to battle it out at the Doc Carr Duals.