Seniors lead strong Union lineup

Union Community Coach Pat Hogan recognized the Knights had a special class three years ago.

The Knights are proving their longtime coach has an eye for talent.

Union has climbed into national rankings with impressive early-season performances and earned one of the four top seeds at the Battle of Waterloo dual tournament Friday and Saturday at Young Arena. Competition begins at 9 a.m. Friday.

The Knights have started 6-0 duals before Thursday's double dual with East Marshall and Wapsie Valley. A team title over nationally-ranked Bettendorf at Cedar Falls' Keith Young Invitational helped them climb to 41st in Intermat's national rankings.

'If you look at our lineup, we're a pretty senior-laden team,” Hogan said. 'Those guys have been around for quite some time.

'We talked to this class about that if they stuck together when they were freshmen and if things worked out as far as weights and separation then we'd be pretty competitive.”

Union was fifth at the traditional state tournament last year and is ranked only behind Mediapolis in Class 2A. The Knights returned state champions Max Thomsen (145) and Jacob Holschlag (170), state medalists Derek Holschlag and Trevor McLaughlin. Seniors Ryder Albertsen (126), Colton Deitrick (138) and 220-pounder Jace Hadachek return with state experience.

The senior class has worked together to control the reins of the team.

'They all take a leadership role as far as in the room and when we compete,” Hogan said. 'There is a lot of experience. They know where they want to go and have been there.”

Thomsen, who is ranked No. 1 nationally in some polls and looking to become the state's 24th four-time state champion, is 9-0, as is Jacob Holschlag. Derek Holschlag is 9-1. Jon Hellman (106) and McLaughlin are both 8-1. Will Reiter leads the team with 10 wins at 182.

The performance at the Keith Young helped jump-start the season.

'I think it was a confidence builder,” Hogan said. 'It's still early in the year. We'll be tested.”

The next test comes in the 32-team, two-day dual event that opens with bracket competition on the first day followed by pool action on Day 2 based on bracket placement. Union is the No. 1 seed in the 'A” bracket, opening with Iowa City High. A win could set up a dual with top-ranked Alburnett in the semifinal round.

Independence (B), Cedar Rapids Prairie (D), which is 43rd in the national rankings, and Davenport Assumption (C) are the other top seeds. Hogan said parity has left things wide open as the Knights try to match their tournament success in duals.

'This is just another step,” said Hogan, noting the Knights have developed a target on their back. 'It is another opportunity to see what we can do.”

LISBON AVENGES LOSS

Lisbon's lone loss came in the opening dual of the season. The Lions exacted a little revenge against Class 1A top-ranked Alburnett a week later.

After starting the season with a three-point loss decided in the final bout, Lisbon turned the tables with pins in the last two matches from brothers Dakota and Logan O'Connor to beat the Pirates, 37-34, last Thursday.

The dual included four ties and four lead changes, ending when Logan O'Connor pinned Trenton Thomas at 220 pounds. The fall was a 12-point swing from the previous dual when Thomas pinned O'Connor. The late heroics was set up by Dakota O'Connor at 195, improving his decision from a week earlier. In a battle of two-time state champions, Lisbon's Carter Happel defeated Hunter Washburn, 11-3.

Lisbon is 10-1 and Alburnett is 6-3. Both teams will compete in the Battle of Waterloo.

LAMMERS RETURNS

West Delaware's top-ranked 182-pounder Brent Lammers is set to see his first matches of the season Thursday. The Hawks will compete in a quadrangular against Dyersville Beckham, Williamsburg and host Center Point-Urbana.

Lammers, who was fifth at the Class 2A state meet last year with a 43-6 mark, began his senior season recovering from an ankle injury suffered as quarterback for the Hawks' state quarterfinal football team.

West Delaware Coach Jeff Voss said Lammers has been working to return and helping the inexperienced wrestlers prepare for varsity competition. He said he is glad to have him and others back in the lineup.

'It's big for us,” Voss said. 'He is a leader for our team.”

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