Bulldogs Boys Wrestling Wins Steve Deike Duals

HAMPTON—- The Hampton-Dumont-CAL Bulldogs boys wrestling team went 4-0 and won the Steve Deike Duals title on Feb. 8. Head coach Patrick Hansen said that team wrestled loose and had more fun than they did at the regional meet.

“We were a little stressed out at regionals and we put a little bit too much pressure on ourselves,” Hansen said. “Saturday it was more like ‘let’s let it fly’ and the kids wrestled really well and we beat some good teams there, it was a good day.”

The Bulldogs defeated Marshalltown in the first match 42-33. In that matchup, Brody Robertson won in the 215-lbs weight class, Madox Strother won in the 106-lbs weight class, Luke Showalter won in the 120-lbs weight class, William Vosburg won in the 126-lbs weight class, Charlie Showalter won in the 132-lbs weight class, and Jaymes Stevens won in the 144-lbs weight class. Ryder Strother won in the 150-lbs weight class and Taylor Mahler won in the 157-lbs weight class.

The Bulldogs then defeated Forest City 65-9. In that matchup, Brody Robertson won in the 215-lbs weight class, Emmitt Elling won in the 285-lbs weight class, Madox Strother won in the 106-lbs weight class, and Luke Showalter won in the 120-lbs weight class. William Vosburg won in the 126-lbs weight class, Charlie Showalter won in the 132-lbs weight class, Brody Strother won in the 138-lbs weight class, Ryder Strother won in the 150-lbs weight class, Taylor Mahler won in the 157-lbs weight class, Colin Bird won in the 165-lbs weight class, Sean Heilskov won in the 175-lbs weight class, and Tristen Mulford won in the 190-lbs weight class.

In the third match, the Bulldogs defeated Armes 61-14. Emmitt Elling won in the 285-lbs weight class, Madox Strother won in the 106-lbs weight class, Carter Janssen won in the 113-lbs weight class, Luke Showalter won in the 120-lbs weight class, and William Vosburg won in the 126-lbs weight class. Charlie Showalter won in the 132-lbs weight class, Taylor Mahler won in the 157-lbs weight class, Colin Bird won in the 165-lbs weight class, Sean Heilskov won in the 175-lbs weight class, Tristen Mulford won in the 190-lbs weight class, and Brody Robertson won in the 215-lbs weight class.

In the final match, the Bulldogs won against Central Springs 44-27. Luke Showalter won in the 120-lbs weight class, Charlie Showalter won in the 132-lbs weight class, Brody Strother won in the 138-lbs weight class, Jaymes Stevens won in the 144-lbs weight class, Taylor Mahler won in the 157-lbs weight class, Colin Bird won in the 165-lbs weight class, Brody Robertson won in the 215-lbs weight class, and Emmitt Elling won in the 285-lbs weight class.

The team also competed in the Class 2A Regional 8 meet on Feb. 4. The team lost to Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 50.0-17.0. In that matchup, Ryder Strother won in the 150-lbs weight class, Taylor Mahler won in the 57-lbs weight class, and Madox Strother won in the 106-lbs weight class.

Hansen said that regionals did not go really well for the team.

“We got beat pretty bad,” Hansen said. “We just did not bring our A game and Clarion did.”

For the wrestlers who will be back next year, the regionals meet was a good experience for the younger kids.

“It is one of those things where being in the regional duals is a good thing,” Hansen said. “I know we did not get where we wanted to be but for the younger kids it is something we are starting to get accustomed to. It is like making the state playoffs in football. It is you expect to do all the time and when you get there you really want to win. But you handle it and know the sun comes up the next day.”

After the regional meet, one area that Hansen said the team can work on to take the next step next year is hand fighting and Hansen said he thinks the team can step up to the challenge of going against tough opponents.

“You have to step up to the challenge or not and I believe in our kids and I think they will always step up to it.”

The team’s next meet is the District meet at Clear Lake on Feb. 15. At 10 a.m.