West Delaware rolls to win over Western Dubuque

DEWITT - West Delaware wrestling coach Jeff Voss said he wants his team to peak for the postseason, but first they wanted to reach the peak of the Wamac.The Hawks secured its spot atop the Wamac Conference East Division with a dominant 52-12 win over Western Dubuque Thursday at DeWitt Central High School. West Delaware followed with a 68-3 win over the host Sabers.Both teams entered with a 5-0 conference mark. The Hawks are ranked fourth in Class 2A, while the Bobcats are 15th in 3A. The promise of a close dual turned into a rout, winning 10 matches including eight with bonus points. West Delaware Coach Jeff Voss said the Hawks won almost every toss-up match, which led to the lopsided result.“We're starting to build momentum for the end of the year so we wanted to come out hard in this dual,” Voss said. “I thought all of our kids did that.”West Delaware (18-5, 7-0) claimed eight of the first 10 matches, building a 40-6 lead. P.C. McEnany (135) and Jake Voss (140) opened with a major decision and a pin in the first two bouts. After Western Dubuque rebounded with two decisions, the Hawks went on a hot streak, picking up four falls from 171 through heavyweight.They knifed through a part of the Bobcats lineup that is regularly their strength.“They got the momentum going,” Western Dubuque coach Tom Danner said. “They got the job done.”Nolan Zumbach started it with a first-period fall at 160. Sam Lahr stuck Blake Kass in 2:40 at 171. Alex Rans and Chet Winch added pins at 215 and heavyweight for the Hawks. Adam Reth added a 12-5 decision at 189.“I thought what they did in the first two periods made the third period go like it was,” Voss said. “We talk pace a lot. We had a lot of good intensity. We weren't always ahead after the first period, but I think what we did the first two helped us in the third period.”The foursome sometimes battle in practice and a strong cast of reserves prepare them for competition.“It helps a lot,” Rans said. “It's good competition. You're working hard all the time. They really challenge you.”Reth and Rans produced the Hawks biggest wins. Reth, ranked eighth, scored four takedowns, including two in the final period with three back points for a 12-5 win over No. Dave Demmer.Rans held a 9-8 lead when he pinned 10th-ranked Mitch Ramler in 5:44. Rans scored three takedowns, but a big five-point move in the second put Ramler up to start the third.“I just had to keep on them and wear him out,” Rans said. “We work hard on conditioning e very day for that reason.”Rans said the fall was a major win for him. The win over a quality opponent added some confidence as the referee slapped the mat.“I had a sense of accomplishment,” Rans said. “It showed all the hard work has paid off.”Ryan Soppe (119) and Jerad Hoefer added falls for the Hawks. The pin was Hoefer's 100th career victory and capped the seniors goal to win four straight Wamac dual titles.“He deserves that,” Voss said. “He's worked real hard the last four years.”The Hawks led many statistical categories, but the advantage in takedowns (22-9) and nearfall points (17-10) told the tale. West Delaware was strong on their feet and put the Bobcats on their back.“Hats off to West Delaware,” Danner said. “They were aggressive.”Derek Ludwig (145) and Morgan Hall (152) won to pull the Bobcats within 10-6. Jake Gotto (112) and ninth-ranked 125-pounder Nick Steger also won for Western Dubuque (20-7, 5-1).The Bobcats were slightly banged up, holding out eighth-ranked Michael Kluesner at 171 against West Delaware.