Washington wrestlers roll in season opener

MARION - They were mad as heck and weren't going to take it anymore.

The losses, whippings and lack of leadership were too much. Two seasons ago, a group of sophomores closed out the year, asking Cedar Rapids Washington Coach Matt Hatcher what it took to get better. So, those seniors dedicated themselves, devoted time in the offseason and vowed to guide their teammates.

Those Warriors are seniors now, and spearheaded the Washington wrestling team to two dominant dual victories Tuesday night at Marion High School. Washington handled Maquoketa, 63-11, and the claimed a 53-27 win over the host Indians.

The Warriors suffered through the defection of upperclassmen in previous seasons. They were determined to fill that void and matured into solid leaders.

"We turned stuff around," senior Jordin Eicher said. "We're tired of getting beat all the time. We wanted to be the ones winning and giving the beatings instead of getting beat."

Offseason work increased. They started attending camps and workouts, including a team camp at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga during the summer. The team was able to bond and Eicher said they developed unity, which helps them on the mat.

"We would wake up, wrestle the entire day and get the stuff we need," Eicher said about the UTC camp. "I think that makes us closer as a team."

Eicher, Troy Neagle, a Mississippi Valley Conference Champion last season, Kaiser Herz and state medalist heavyweight Tyler Burrell led lifting sessions, in addition to the camps. The participation level began to grow, and more started to buy-in to the system.

"Those four were the ones who said we're going to get it done," Hatcher said. "We're not going to have that happen to us anymore. We're not going to do that to the younger kids. We're going to make another step in the right direction for this program. That's exactly what they did."

Washington (2-0) looked impressive, racking up 12 pins in the two duals. They looked more confident and technically sound. A possible product from the offseason work.

"They established a little more confidence and started believing in themselves more," Hatcher said. "That's what it takes."

Eicher (132), Trevor Luebe (138), Herz, 170-pounder Drake Hickok and Noah Fox (195) each had two pins for Washington. The Warriors won 11 of 14 weights against Maquoketa and nine over Marion. Eicher said it was the best performance he has witnessed from the Warriors.

"I believe we feed off each other," Eicher said. "We get a good start and we roll on that. We're a momentum team."

Hatcher was encouraged by the amount of pins from the Warriors. He said the team has shown they are improved but they bigger challenges are ahead, including Thursday's triangular against Waterloo West and Dubuque Wahlert.

"It's two meets. That is all it is," Hatcher said. "I'm glad the kids got out there. They were excited to wrestle.

"Really all we get out of it is we're getting a little bit better."

Marion (1-1) defeated Maquoketa 41-34 to open the meet and Coach Jason Haag's tenure as Indians' head coach. Marion received falls from Levi Lochner (138), Hunter Banes at 160, Kyle Grandon (220) and heavyweight Kyle VanMeter and Alex Hunter added a technical fall against the Cardinals. Banes, Grandon, Hunter and Dalton Gardner each went 2-0 for the Indians.

Haag is still getting acquainted with his young team, including about seven freshmen. He can now gauge where they need work.

"It's a good starting point," said Haag, who served as a Linn-Mar assistant before taking over for long-time Marion Coach Bruce Weisinger in the spring. "That's what we told the kids. This is our starting point and we go from here. It's a process."

120 pounds - Christian Flenker (Maq) pinned Tevin Mull, 2:37; 126 - Caleb Fairlie (Mar) won by forfeit; 132 - Alex Hunter (Mar) tech. fall Logan Mayberry, 20-5; 138 - Levi Lochner (Mar) pinned Dallas Durkop, 3:24; 145 - Ryan Horcher (Maq) pinned Nick Kramer, 3:19; 152 - Josh Kirk (Maq) pinned John Carstensen, 1:46; 160 - Hunter Banes (Mar) pinned Ty Thede, 5:05; 170 - Justin Zeimet (Maq) major dec. Dakota Peterson, 12-1; 182 - Dalton Gardner (Mar) won by forfeit; 195 - Alexander Eggers (Maq) pinned Kenneth Kiene, 1:24; 220 - Kyle Grandon (Mar) won by fall in 3:26; 285 - Kyle VanMeter (Mar) won by fall in 3:40; 106 - Beau Bowman (Maq) pinned Ian Kelly, 1:39; 113 - No match.

126 - Jon Rockwell (CRW) won by forfeit; 132 - Jordin Eicher (CRW) pinned Mayberry, 1:31; 138 - Trevor Luebe (CRW) pinned Durkop, 2:36; 145 - Kaiser Herz (CRW) pinned Horcher, 1:07; 152 - Kirk (Maq) pinned Tyler Burkle, 3:43; 160 - Evan Lehrman (CRW) dec. Thede, 13-7; 170 - Drake Hickok (CRW) pinned Zeimet, 3:01; 182 - Wes Kesslar (CRW) won by forfeit; 195 - Noah Fox (CRW) pinned Eggers, 1:02; 220 - Evan Sutton (Maq) dec. Noah Williams, 5-3; 285 - Tyler Burrell (CRW) won by forfeit; 106 - Bowman (Maq) dec. Mason Byrne, 6-2; 113 - Troy Neagle (CRW) won by forfeit; 120 - Trey Schuler (CRW) pinned Flenker, 5:16.

*-Maquoketa deducted a team point for uniform infraction.

132 - Eicher (CRW) pinned Lochner, 5:18; 138 - Luebe (CRW) pinned Carter Stigge, 1:05; 145 - J.P. Mercado (CRW) pinned Kramer, 1:06; 152 - Herz (CRW) pinned Carstensen, 2:47; 160 - Banes (Mar) pinned Lehrman, :59; 170 - Hickok (CRW) pinned Peterson, 2:34; 182 - Gardner (Mar) pinned Keenen White, 3:27; 195 - Fox (CRW) pinned Kiene, :20; 220 - Grandon (Mar) pinned Williams, 1:18; 285 - Burrell (CRW) won by forfeit; 106 - Kelly (Mar) pinned Byrne, :47; 113 - Neagle (CRW) won by forfeit; 120 - Schuler (CRW) pinned Mull, 1:48; 126 - Hunter (Mar) dec. Rockwell, 8-5.

*-Washington deducted team point for unsportsmanlike conduct.