Croix and Lane Gudenkauf topple ranked foes, propel No. 5 West Delaware to win over No. 4 Independence

INDEPENDENCE – West Delaware’s Croix and Lane Gudenkauf are like many wrestling siblings.

They have trained and traveled to tournaments together, sharing a passion for the sport. They are competitive, driving one another to be their best yet thriving on each other’s success.

“I feel like we push each other,” said Lane, a sophomore 165-pounder. “We spent a lot of days just going to practice by ourselves and I feel like that pushed us and kept us motivated.”

Both recorded victories over ranked foes and helped Class 2A fifth-ranked West Delaware defeat 2A No. 4 Independence, 35-33, in a Wamac Conference boys wrestling dual Thursday night at Independence. The Hawks won their 12th straight dual in the series and the 8th consecutive win in the Battle for the Del-Buc Trophy.

“It just took great effort from our guys from every one of them,” West Delaware Coach Jake Voss said. “Everybody came out ready to wrestle tonight.”

Wrestling is a family affair for the Gudenkaufs, journeying from Pennsylvania to Utah for competitions. Lane praised his parents’ support and sacrifice to provide opportunities to wrestle. They attend duals and tournaments just to get their fix as spectators.

“My family's really into it,” Lane said. “My mom and dad, I’ve got to give a lot of credit to them. They've really helped us out through the years.”

Voss praised the Gudenkaufs for their hard work and their resolve. They are prototypical Iowa farm kids raised to be gritty and tough.

“For how good a wrestlers they are, they're even better people,” Voss said about the Gudenkaufs. “They’ve got great character and they got great work ethic and good things to happen for good kids like that, so I’m really proud of them.”

Croix said he used to wrestle his brother at home when they were younger but that doesn’t occur much anymore. They still roll around during club workouts, while Voss laughed at the idea of Croix and Lane doing that at Hawks practices. They can be a little too rough with one another, getting physical and refusing to concede any advantage. Best to keep them separated.

“We don't let that happen,” Voss said with a chuckle. “It doesn't work out well for anybody.”

Croix, a freshman ranked seventh at 150, ignited a four-match win streak with an 18-4 major decision over No. 6 Kam Kremer. The younger Gudenkauf two takedowns in each of the last two periods and six nearfall points. He turned an expected close match into a lopsided result in the Hawks’ favor.

“A lot of the guys are talking about these deciding matches, where they could go both ways,” Croix said. “I had to clear that from my head, and I was like I can do what I can do. I've trained for this and I'm going to do whatever it takes.”

Lane received a boost from his brother’s bonus-point triumph as he prepared to face No. 9 Christopher Meyer.

“Seeing Croix win, made me really excited,” Lane said. “It gave me that extra motivation to go out there and put it all on the mat.”

Gudenkauf, ranked No. 10, made it a family sweep in the Highway 20 Clash, earning a 4-2 win. He fended off Meyer’s shot and countered with a re-attack, finishing the low single-leg for the decisive takedown in the third.

“It came so fast and was like in a blink of an eye,” Lane said. “I was right there on his leg. I knew if I didn't get that takedown it was going to go into overtime. I'm just going to push myself as hard as I can. Attacked, attacked, I didn't stop and got it.

“I felt like part of that came with like practice. I knew I had the mindset of being able to get it. Wrestling all these tough guys. I'm like, I should be able to get this.”

The decision set up teammate Blake Mather to secure the dual win at 175. Mather responded with a 10-2 major decision over Cael Troutman, giving the Hawks an 18-point lead and an edge in tiebreaker criteria (more matches won) with three bouts remaining.

“Individually, each kid was ready to go for themselves and for the team,” Voss said. “It just piled up by the end.

“It’s hard to tell in duals what a team needs in any given moment. Luckily, we knew what we needed and a great job by Blake Mather for going out and getting it done. Credit to all the guys that came before him, too, for setting that up.”

The Hawks (13-2, 8-0) won eight weight classes. Sladen Shover and Lucas Peters opened the dual with a decision and technical fall for an 8-0 lead after two matches. Jarrett Engel (132) and Liam Weber (157) recorded pins and Kooper Waugh added a major decision at 138.

“We talk about every match is important in a dual, and every bonus point is important, whether you're fighting for the next one or you're fighting to take one away. Just credit it to all of our guys for doing that.”

Independence (18-6, 7-1) received pins from Ben Anderson (120), Carver Wieland at 144 and heavyweight Gable Eddy. Second-ranked Adam Carey won by technical fall at 126 and 215-pounder Carter Eddy contributed a major decision for the Mustangs.

INDEPENDENCE 40, WEST DELAWARE 30 – Alina Ajruloski started the dual with a major decision, Sophia Hurley produced a pin and the host Mustangs (10-9, 4-4) received five forfeits in the girls’ dual Thursday. The Mustangs are 4-1 all-time against the Hawks.

Ajruloski tallied five takedowns for a 16-3 win over Lily Schulte at 100 pounds. Hurley extended Independence’s lead to 22-0 after four weights with a first-period fall over Eva Demmer.

The Hawks (4-11, 1-7) actually won more head-to-head matches. Second-ranked Anna O’Rear pinned Kenleigh Trumblee in 48 seconds at 135. Hannah Crane (145), Lily Heim (155) and 170-pounder Gracie Heim notched consecutive pins for West Delaware.

Both teams will compete at the Wamac Conference tournament Friday at Vinton-Shellsburg.

AT INDEPENDENCE

BOYS’ RESULT

West Delaware 35, Independence 33

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

106 pounds – Sladen Shover (WD) dec. Curran Meyer, 5-3 (1,0); 113 – Lucas Peters (WD) tech. fall Landon Allen, 18-1 (3,0); 120 – Ben Anderson (I) pinned Nate Weber, :29 (1,0); 126 – Adam Carey (I) tech. fall Owen Lewin, 17-2 (3,0); 132 – Jarrett Engel (WD) pinned Finn Crawford, 5:14 (4,0); 138 – Kooper Waugh (WD) major dec. Sawyer Wieland, 14-4 (3,1); 144 – Carver Wieland (I) pinned Colten Roling, 4:59 (4,0); 150 – Croix Gudenkauf (WD) major dec. Kam Kremer, 18-4 ( 4,0); 157– Liam Weber (WD) pinned Austin Buckman, 2:45 (3,0); 165 – Lane Gudenkauf (WD) dec. Christopher Meyer, 4-2 (1,0); 175 – Blake Mather (WD) major dec. Cael Troutman, 10-2 (3,0); 190 – Braylen Bieber (I) won by forfeit; 215 – Carter Eddy (I) major dec. Jay Georgan, 15-4 (5,0); 285 – Gable Eddy (I) pinned Dylan Schaul, 5:44 (1,0).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – West Delaware 22, Independence 16. Reversals – West Delaware 1, Independence 1. Escapes – West Delaware 12, Independence 11. Nearfall points – West Delaware 18, Independence 8. Penalty points (awarded) – West Delaware 1, Independence 3. Total match points – West Delaware 99, Independence 72.

GIRLS’ RESULT

Independence 40, West Delaware 30

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

100 pounds – Alina Ajruloski (I) major dec. Lily Schulte, 16-3 (5,0); 105 – Brooklyn Murray (I) won by forfeit; 110 – Madison Arnold (I) won by forfeit; 115 – Sophia Hurley (I) pinned Eva Demmer, :46 (1,0); 120 – Morgan Krall (I) won by forfeit; 125 – Natalie Frye (I) won by forfeit; 130 – Berkley Lynch (WD) won by forfeit; 135 – Anna O’Rear (WD) pinned Kenleigh Trumblee, :48 (1,0); 140 – Mercy Toe (I) won by forfeit; 145 – Hannah Crane (WD) pinned Adison Clayton, 2:58 (1,1); 155 – Lily Heim (WD) pinned Clair Priebe, 4:41 (2,2); 170 – Gracie Heim (WD) pinned Londyn Truex, 1:13 (1,0); 190 – Double forfeit; 235 – Double forfeit.

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – West Delaware 5, Independence 9. Reversals – West Delaware 0, Independence 0. Escapes – West Delaware 6, Independence 3. Nearfall points – West Delaware 4, Independence 8. Penalty points (awarded) – West Delaware 0, Independence 0. Total match points – West Delaware 25, Independence 38.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com