Trojans wrestle up, win big over City High

IOWA CITY – Slide up a weight class here and a few more there.

It doesn't matter. These guys are that good.

No. 2 Iowa City West earned bonus points in each of the 10 bouts it won in an easy 57-15 win Thursday night at Iowa City High. Jack Hathaway at 132 pounds, Dakota Bauer at 138, Sam Chalkley at 145, and Gradey Gambrall at 152 all moved up a weight class for the Trojans and won big.

“I don't think it's a bad thing,” West High coach Mark Reiland said. “Anytime they can wrestle guys that are a little bit bigger gives them a little bit more of a challenge.”

The Trojans (3-0) also earned 18 points from forfeits in three bouts that started a streak of eight straight wins to finish the dual.

Hathaway, Chalkley, Justin Koethe at 160, Mitch Watkins at 170, and Mickey Pelfrey at 195 earned falls for West High.

Bauer may have had the most impressive for match the Trojans. The state's top-ranked wrestler at 132 moved up a weight class and still produced a 24-9 technical fall against City High's Colin Donnelly in 3:24

Bauer scored 10 takedowns, including six in the first period.

“He's talented,” Reiland said. “He has a lot of skills. He's very quick and he's got a wide arsenal.”

How much confidence does Bauer have? The senior let his opponent up with less than nine seconds left to tack on another takedown.

“I'm surprised he didn't try to do that with two seconds,” Reiland said. “He believes in himself that much.”

City High (0-3) actually led 15-12 after six bouts, using its strong upper weights to jump out to an early advantage with the dual starting at 170 pounds.

The Little Hawks won three of the four top weights, including a first-period pin by Steve Ferentz at 220. Alex Lemus won an 8-2 decision at 125 to give City High a lead.

Then came the forfeits. West High won the next three matches because City High coach Brad Smith didn't want to send underclassmen to the mat against a pair of top 10 wrestlers, thinking it was better for his wrestlers to get mat experience in the junior-varsity dual.

“Our lineup will be strong down there after winter break when we get some kids back,” Smith said. “We're young down there, but we're going to get better. We just have to hang in there and stick with them.”

Iowa City West 57, Iowa City High 15

170 – Mitch Watkins (ICW) pins Gage Olson, 1:36; 182 – Kody Dailey (ICH) dec. Blake Bohner, 6-3; 195 – Mickey Pelfrey (ICW) pins Ryan Maas, 2:08; 220 – Steve Ferentz (ICH) pins Aydon Wynoss, 1:44; 285 – Tanner Odle (ICH) dec. Colin Foerstner, 4-1; 106 – Alex Lemus (ICH) dec. Jasmine Bailey, 8-2; 113 – Philip Laux (ICW) won by forfeit; 120 – Ernest Willis (ICW) won by forfeit; 126 – Jakeb Bakken (ICW) won by forfeit; 132 – Jack Hathaway (ICW) pins Evgeney Kolyvanov, 1:28; 138 – Dakota Bauer (ICW) tech. fall Colin Donnelly, 24-9, 3:24; 145 – Sam Chalkley (ICW) pins Tom Denneny, 0:52; 152 – Gradey Gambrall (ICW) maj. dec. Mitch Hasler, 13-3; 160 – Justin Koethe (ICW) pins Harrison Whitlow, 0:24.