Sigourney wrestling gets back on track

Following the winter break the Savages picked up another dual win at North Mahaska on January 3 and followed that up with some deep runs in the Ottumwa Invitational on December 5, finishing in 10th place.

At North Mahaska (Jan. 3)

Iowa Valley vs Sigourney (54-22)

The Tigers won the first match via forfeit, but Sigourney tied things up with an early win by Mason Dye (120 lbs.), taking down his opponent midway through the first period. Iowa Valley won the next 18 points and Trent Hendricks (145 lbs.) gave the Savages a spark with a high-scoring 15-4 win over Gavin Patterson. The Tigers added on another six points before Nate Schuster (160 lbs.) was able to pin his man with just seconds left in the first period. Mac Conrad (182 lbs.) picked up the final six points for the Savages with a pin over Isaiah Moncada in the last 30 seconds of the second period. Iowa Valley won four of the final five matches to expand their lead and beat the Savages.

Wilton vs Sigourney (42-30)

Following a forfeit in the 106 lb. match, Dye tacked on another win to his season, this time in the 113 lb. class but with the same result, pinning his opponent just over midway through the first period. Greg Gott (152 lbs.) and Schuster were given wins due to forfeits and Zeke Webb (170 lbs.) added on another six points for the Savages by pinning Chantz Stevens late in the first period. Conrad got his second win of the night to put Sigourney up by six, but a couple losses and a forfeit allowed Wilton to retake the lead and win by 12.

Sigourney vs North Mahaska (42-18)

The Savages didn’t go winless on the night, beating the hosting Warhawks by a convincing margin with North Mahaska winning three matches with one coming from a forfeit. Other than that, it was all Savages, including a third win for Dye on the night with another pin in the first period. The scoring opened with Evan Dawson (138 lbs.) winning via forfeit and Hendricks notching an upset over Jarrett Stodghill, one of the better Warhawks in recent years. An even match between the two but Hendricks was able to establish an early 4-1 lead going into the second period. From there it came close to ending at times with both wrestlers getting near-fall points but not finishing it out. Hendricks continued to hold a 10-7 lead going into the third period and ended it by pinning Stodghill. Following a loss by Gott, the Savages went on to win the last 24 points, including a pin by Schuster at the end of the first period.

At Ottumwa (Jan. 5)

The Savages finished 10th in their first tournament of 2019, winning a total of 58.5 points along the way. Dye led the charge for the Savages and had the best finish of the day by taking second place and earning his team 26.5 points. Dye dominated up until the Championship match, beating his first opponent 12-2, advanced with a bye, took down his second opponent 15-0 and pinned his third just over 30 seconds into the first period. In the Championship, Dye was matched up against Nathan Kahoe from DSM Abraham Lincoln whom came in with only two losses on the season. Their match went late into the second period before Kahoe managed to pick up the win and give Dye second place. Conrad also finished in the top five of his weight class, earning 13 points for Sigourney. He pinned his first opponent midway through the first period, then went the distance and came up short in a 4-3 decision against Ryan Edenbum. Conrad then lost 10-1 in the quarterfinal and got back on track with a pin midway through the first period in the consolation bracket. Conrad finished the day off strong by pinning Drake Bailey late in the first period to secure fifth place.

Sigourney picked up the rest of their points from their other wrestlers, none of whom finished higher than eighth with Hendricks winning a couple then ending up taking eighth, Schuster won with a quick pin in his first match but then ended up in eighth as well. Gavin Bird got a bye in the first round but would go on to get pinned his next four matches to take eighth. Cade Streigle and Webb finished ninth in their respective weight classes, while Dawson and Gott finished 12th.

The Savages will be back on the road January 10 when they travel to BGM.