Iowa Wrestling Weekend That Was: 4 Cyclones win Harold Nichols Open titles

Plenty of wrestling action surrounded Turkey Day. Iowa and UNI competed at Iowa State’s Harold Nichols Open. Upper Iowa dominated in its first dual. Waverly-Shell Rock claimed the team title at Linn-Mar. Here is a look at the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

Harold Nichols Open

Iowa State crowned four champions at the Harold Nichols Open Saturday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. Ramazan Attasauov (133), freshman Jacob Frost (141), Cam Robinson at 149 and 174-pounder Julian Broderson won titles for the Cyclones.

Interestingly, Broderson beat teammate Joel Devine in the finals. Broderson used a takedown for a 2-1 lead after one, but Devine responded with a takedown in the second for a 4-3 lead entering the third. Broderson scored a takedown with 38 seconds remaining for a 6-5 decision. Iowa State took the top three spots at 174, getting bronze from Manny Rojas.

Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen (184) and 197-pounder Wyatt Voelker won titles. Keckeisen won a best-of-3 series against South Dakota State’s Roman Rogotzke. The Panthers’ two-time All-American produced a 20-4 technical fall and 15-3 major decision.

Voelker, a freshman from West Delaware, went 3-0 overall. He scored a second-period escape and takedown for a 3-1 win over Iowa’s Kolby Franklin in the finals. Voelker also earned a 12-2 semifinal major decision over teammate Adam Ahrendson and opened with a 5-0 triumph over Wisconsin’s Mikey Talshahar.

In addition to Franklin, the Hawkeyes had a trio place third. Joel Jesuroga was third at 149 and Aiden Riggins (157) and heavyweight Gage Marty matched his finish. Jesuroga had a 5-1 record Saturday, tallying a pin and major decision.

Marty, a former Solon prep, dropped his first bout but won his next two, including a first-period pin of teammate Bradley Hill for bronze.

Upper Iowa wallops Waldorf

Upper Iowa opened its dual slate the day before Thanksgiving. The Peacocks were unkind hosts, thumping Waldorf, 57-0, Wednesday in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium at Fayette.

Upper Iowa notched its 13th shutout under Heath Grimm, who is in his 23rd season as Peacocks head coach. It was the first shutout victory since beating Truman State, 56-0, in November 2018.

Five Waldorf forfeits helped Upper Iowa’s cause. The Peacocks earned bonus points in all five contested matches. Ethen Doty (149), Colter Bye at 184 and heavyweight Zach Ryg each won by fall. Scott Kellenberger added a technical fall at 174 and 125-pounder Colby Lopez won major decision.

Upper Iowa doesn’t compete again until Dec. 17-18 at University of Indianapolis’ Midwest Classic.

Tanner Sloan dominates in debut

Former Alburnett two-time state champion Tanner Sloan was a decisive winner in his season debut Sunday. South Dakota State’s 11th-ranked 197-pounder scored two four-point nearfalls in the second period for a 12-2 major decision over Minnesota’s No. 20 Garrett Joles.

Sloan’s victory gave the Jackrabbits a 10-7 lead over the No. 13 Golden Gophers at the midway point. SDSU heavyweight A.J. Nevills followed with a pin for a 16-7 lead with four remaining, but Minnesota won the final four matches by decision for a 19-16 win.

The dual came down to the final weight. Minnesota’s Michael Blockhus beat Alek Martin, 4-1, at 149. Blockhus, a former prep at Crestwood and New Hampton, began his college career at UNI.

Sloan, a three-time NCAA qualifier and 2020 National Wrestling Coaches Association second-team All-American, improved to 36-4 in duals. He is continuing a successful fall, which included a silver medal in men’s freestyle Oct. 22 at the U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.

Waverly-Shell Rock claims title at Linn-Mar

The Linn-Mar girls’ wrestling program held its home dual tournament Saturday. The 10-team field included some of the top area teams, including Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association girls’ state tournament team champion Waverly-Shell Rock.

WSR showed why it is one of the state’s best programs, capturing the team title with a 5-0 mark, including a 48-27 finals victory over Cedar Falls. The Go-Hawks combined to go 53-16 record in individual matches and outscored opponents by an average of 61.8-15.8.

Cedar Rapids Prairie topped the host Lions for third place. The Hawks received pins from Madison Childers (140) and Jada Hynek (145) in the final two bouts for a 48-36 win. Prairie ended with a 4-1 record. Linn-Mar closed at 3-2 overall.

Mackenzie Childers, Myah Rausch and Chloe Heefner each went 5-0 for Prairie. Linn-Mar’s Katie Seery and Ally Jelinek both 5-0 as well.

East Buchanan placed fifth. Destiny Krum, Andelyn Cabalka and Tayla Stiefel were 5-0, helping the Buccaneers go 3-2 Saturday. East Buchanan topped Dallas Center-Grimes, 42-30, in the last round.

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