Brady Shekleton’s last-second victory highlights Western Dubuque high school boys’ wrestling dual over Cedar Rapids Xavier

EPWORTH – Western Dubuque Coach Paul Cleary said he emphasizes wrestling hard and scoring as many points as possible.

He also noted that junior 175-pounder Brady Shekleton personified that approach.

Shekleton produced one of the more exciting finishes. He used a five-point move in the final seconds for a decision and contributed to the Bobcats, 45-25, boys’ wrestling season-opening dual win over Cedar Rapids Xavier Thursday night at home. Western Dubuque also won the girls’ dual, 78-6, in the Mississippi Valley Conference sweep.

Shekleton’s late takedown and two nearfall before the buzzer capped an 8-5 comeback victory over Dane Melchior.

“It felt pretty good,” Shekleton said. “It's what we always do in practice and like training when we’re tired. The coaches push us. It makes us better wrestlers.”

Cleary said Shekleton wrestled just a “handful” of matches last season due to injury but came back. He praised Shekleton for his fight and never-give-up attitude.

“That's how he trains,” Cleary said. “It's how he lives. He was down, heading in the third period and came back and got the win, so couldn't be prouder of the effort and the mentality he’s got. Great leadership for our program.”

Shekleton scored the opening takedown, but fell behind one after Melchior answered with an escape and takedown. After a second-period rideout and third-period escape, Melchior led 5-3 until inside the last 10 seconds.

“I knew I needed to score, but I was going for a takedown,” Shekleton said. “They're like, ‘jack him up,” so then I went for it.”

Shekleton whipped Melchior to his back for the decisive score. He converted after just missing a previous chance for a go-ahead takedown.

“He just works,” Cleary said of Shekleton. “I think that was his mentality in that third period. He was like, ‘He's going to work that guy until (the end) and that's what happened.”

The win is something for him to build on this season. Shekleton is ready to punch in for work and keep progressing throughout the season.

“Continue training hard and practice,” Shekleton said. “Just take it into the next week and continue to win matches.”

The Bobcats (1-0) won the first three matches, getting a pin from freshman Macklin Penner at 165 and a decision from 190-pounder David Theisen. Ethan Schlichtmann (120) and Kellen McKenna at 126 posted consecutive pins to make it 36-9 lead, which the Bobcats didn’t surrender. Will Casey (144) and No. 5 Joe Hirsch (157) added technical falls in the final three matches.

“Last last, we didn't have a great year last year, so we're trying to have a rebound,” Cleary said. “We were gunning for them, honestly. We knew they had a good team and it was just a good way to get the year going, so we're excited about how we wrestled.”

Xavier (0-1) scored bonus points in all five wins. Elliott Gneuch (113), Bryce Naber at 132 and Kale Leymaster (150) all scored pins. Leymaster built a 13-point lead and had a technical fall in hand before pinning Will Wernimont in 4:40. Jean Ngoma (215) and Jack Foster at 138 added major decisions for the Saints (0-1).

In the girls’ dual, the Bobcats (5-2, 4-1 MVC) received pins from Clara Breiner (155), Ava Pfab (170), Lexi Vogel at 110 and 125-pounder Landry Rauen and collected nine forfeits. Xavier (0-2, 0-2) opened the dual with a pin from Hannah Pfab at 145.

AT EWORTH

BOYS’ WRESTLING

Western Dubuque 45*, C.R. Xavier 25**

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

165 pounds - Macklin Penner (WD) pinned Marek McNamara, 5:14 (5,0); 175 - Brady Shekleton (WD) dec. Dane Melchior, 8-5 (2,1); 190 - David Theisen (WD) dec. Dusty Cook, 11-5 (2,1); 215 - Jean Ngoma (CRX) major dec. Alex Gassman, 16-4 (1,1); Hwt. - Carter Dietz (WD) won by forfeit; 106 - Caden Gotto (WD) won by forfeit; 113 - Elliott Gneuch (CRX) pinned Isaiah Streif, 3:51 (1,1); 120 - Ethan Schlichtmann (WD) pinned Austin Eich, 1:59 (2,0); 126 - Kellen McKenna (WD) pinned Max Valenta, 1:20 (1,0); 132 - Bryce Naber (CRX) pinned Zach Rempe, 2:31 (2,0); 138 - Jack Foster (CRX) major dec. River Sigwarth, 10-0 (2,0); 144 - Will Casey (WD) tech. fall Kelso Brueck, 15-0 (2,0); 150 - Kale Leymaster (CRX) pinned Will Wernimont, 4:40 (3.0); 157 - Joe Hirsch (WD) tech. fall Germaine Ngoma, 19-3 (5,0)

* - Western Dubuque was deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct after the 138-pound match.

** - Xavier was deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct after the 215-pound match.

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns - C.R. Xavier 11, Western Dubuque 21. Reversals - C.R. Xavier 3, Western Dubuque 1. Escapes - C.R. Xavier 12, Western Dubuque 3. Nearfall points - C.R. Xavier 21, Western Dubuque 18. Penalty points (awarded) - C.R. Xavier 0, Western Dubuque 0. Total match points - C.R. Xavier 72, Western Dubuque 86

GIRLS’ WRESTLING

Western Dubuque 78, C.R. Xavier 6

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

145 pounds - Hannah Pfab (CRX) pinned Kyleigh Kloser, 3:51 (0,1); 155 - Clara Breiner (WD) pinned Elliana Casey, :36 (1,0); 170 - Ava Pfab (WD) pinned Katie Pilcher, 1:54 (1,0); 190 - Carly Knapp (WD) won by forfeit; 235 - Payge Steger (WD) won by forfeit; 100 - Grace Murphy (WD) won by forfeit; 105 - Elli Casey (WD) won by forfeit; 110 - Lexi Vogel (WD) pinned Joey Hines, :36 (1,0); 115 - Alayna Schlichtmann (WD) won by forfeit; 120 - Gracelyn Reiff (WD) won by forfeit; 125 - Landry Rauen (WD) pinned Lili Moses, :29 (1,0); 130 - Khloee Schmidt (WD) won by forfeit; 135 - Kaitlyn Vaske (WD) won by forfeit; 140 - Alexis Howell (WD) won by forfeit.

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns - C.R. Xavier 0, Western Dubuque 5. Reversals - C.R. Xavier 1, Western Dubuque 0. Escapes - C.R. Xavier 0, Western Dubuque 0. Nearfall points - C.R. Xavier 0, Western Dubuque 3. Penalty points (awarded) - C.R. Xavier 0, Western Dubuque 0. Total match points - C.R. Xavier 2, Western Dubuque 18.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com