Fantastic Finish for Local Wrestlers at State Championships

Oskaloosa Indians

by Matt Saville

Words can’t describe what people saw and heard Saturday at the State Wrestling Tournament for local wrestlers. I mentioned a couple weeks ago that when kids start wrestling at a young age they dream of three things, making the State Tournament, winning a State Team Title and winning an individual State Title. Those were all accomplished by the Eddyville Blakesburg Rockets and numerous other local kids also got up on the podium Saturday night.

The Rockets, from Friday night to Saturday night, seemed to be a machine that couldn’t be stopped. Eddyville was trailing going into Saturday night to a strong Alburnett team but Eddyville had 4 kids in the finals and all four, #138 Jeren Glosser, #145 Blake Marolf, #152 Tucker Black and #160 Tyler Foubert, were just like a Rocket as they won back to back to back to back State Titles and Rocketed past Alburnett for the State Team Title. It is the first traditional State Tile for EBF and Coach Little and his staff were named 1A coaching staff of the year. Dillon Pigsley picked up big points in his wrestle backs to help out in finishing 5th at #170. The four back to back to back to back has to be one of the very few, if ever, done before in Iowa history.

Albia had a great run this weekend as they also had a great team finish as they finished #3 in class 2A. The lone Demon to get to the finals was #195 Carter Isley and he fell in the finals to finish 2nd. The Demons also had place finishes by #126 Shadow Leshen, finishing 3rd; #132 Bryce Leshen, finishing 6th; #152 Griffin Osing, finishing 3rd and #160 Brett Leshen also 3rd. The Demons also received another award as Coach Wenger and staff was named Coaching staff of the year.

The Osky Indians had two place winners in #182 Mason Wisse who fought mono the last couple of weeks and finished 5th for the Indians, he was joined by #120 Skylar DeJong who finished 8th. The Indians all battled and fought and they made a good account of themselves at the State Tournament. Congrats to Drea Lamb and Drew Sams also.

Lynville Sully’s Caden Doll had a good showing as he ended up finishing 7th at #170 in class 1A.

Congrats to all of the area wrestlers on the special week of wrestling at the State Tournament.