West Delaware’s Brent Yonkovic looks to peak for the wrestling postseason

INDEPENDENCE — Brent Yonkovic’s best might be in front of him.

And that’s a very good thing for West Delaware’s fifth-ranked 152-pound sophomore and returning state medalist. The goal is to peak at the right time.

“I’m just trying to keep that positive mindset,” Yonkovic said. “The postseason is the most fun. It’s the time where you get to come out and show everybody what you’ve got.”

His skill was on display, pinning his way to the 160-pound title of the Wamac Conference wrestling tournament Saturday at Independence High School. He was one of two champions for the Hawks, who won their sixth straight conference team crown.

“He’s growing as the season has moved on and that is indicative of our team,” West Delaware Coach Jeff Voss said. “We haven’t hit our ceiling yet. We keep getting better.”

Yonkovic (17-3) captured his second straight Wamac championship, but the regular-season road had a few bumps. He suffered an injury that kept him out of the lineup. The hiatus allowed him to recover, refocus and reset for the second half of the season.

“I think it was a good break for me to step off the mat a little bit and get my mind right,” said Yonkovic, who bumped up a weight Saturday to help the Hawks’ point total. “I think everything is starting to come together.”

Yonkovic ended his first two matches in the first period. He capped the day by building a 9-0 lead with three takedowns and three nearfall and pinning Williamsburg’s Cael Moore in 5:53. Yonkovic said he could have wrestled smoother, but Voss has witnessed a positive trend.

“He’s made some strides,” Voss said. “I saw some explosiveness last week and that carried over to today. I think every match he’s getting better right now.”

West Delaware pushed a tournament-high eight into championship matches. Sixth-ranked Brayden Maury also won gold for the Hawks. He used a first-period takedown and reversal in the third for a 4-0 decision over Clear Creek Amana’s Cale Nash for the 113-pound title.

The Hawks amassed 248.5 points, topping runner-up Mount Vernon by just 16. The Mustangs tied Williamsburg with the most titlists with three.

Mount Vernon’s trio was dominant in the finals. Brothers Jase and Jackson Jaspers and Henry Ryan (170) each had major decision victories for their titles.

Jase Jaspers, a freshman ranked third at 126, improved to 34-3, scoring five takedowns to drop Independence’s Kale Wieland, 11-3, in the final. Jackson Jaspers, a junior and two-time state medalist, had takedowns in each period and three nearfall in a 10-1 win over CCA’s Beck Arant.

“Jase has gotten a lot better, obviously,” Mount Vernon Coach Vance Light said. “He’s opened up since the beginning of the year. Jackson has been doing the same thing.

“They’re real comfortable out there in all positions, scoring a lot of points.”

Ryan opened with a 17-second pin and followed with a 7-0 decision. He closed the day with five takedowns in a 12-3 win over Williamsburg’s Conner Parker.

“We have some kids who are pretty decent,” Light said. “Some kids, they wrestle try to keep it close. Sometimes they get frustrated.

“They did a good job today of sticking and wrestling in positions where they can score points.”

In one of the five finals matches between two ranked wrestlers, Independence’s third-ranked Korver Hupke avenged a loss to No. 1 Cam Geuther. They wrestled in a dual Thursday with Geuther posting a decision.

Korver turned the tables with a 6-4 victory for the heavyweight title.

“It was big for me,” Hupke said. “That loss hit a spot. Normally, they don’t hurt that much but that one hurt more. I wanted to come back and get it. Thankfully, I was able to do it.”

The second period was a pivotal point in the match. Hupke scored a reversal to get on the board and then added a takedown on the edge of the mat as time expired. He added a takedown in the third, countering a shot off a restart for the decisive score.

“I was able to control the ties, get to my 2-on-1,” Hupke said. “Being able to do that opened up opportunities for me.”

Hupke moved to 35-4 and has his sights set on a strong postseason run. He won’t dwell on his latest win.

“This is a big springboard for me but I have to keep a level head,” Hupke said. “I have to keep wrestling like anyone can beat me.”

Kaden Kremer won the 132 title to give Independence two champions.

South Tama crowned two champions in top-ranked Gavin Bridgewater at 195 and 220-pounder Rudy Papakee. Bridgewater used a late escape in the second, a third-period takedown and penalty point to upend West Delaware’s No. 5 Will Ward in the final.

Papakee racked up five bonus points for the Trojans, posting an 11-1 major decision over West Delaware’s Grant Northburg. Papakee scored four takedowns and cinched up a cradle at the end of the second for three nearfall. His bonus-point win in the final helped South Tama pass Williamsburg for fourth by a half-point.

The Raiders finished fifth but received titles from Lincoln Schropp (106), Gavin Jensen at 120 and 138-pounder Nile Sinn. All three beat ranked foes in the finals. Schropp scored six points in the final period to top Mount Vernon’s No. 8 Klayten Perreault, 9-7. Nile Sinn had three takedowns in a 6-5 decision over West Delaware’s Carson Turnis, 6-5.

Third-ranked Jensen faced West Delaware’s No. 4 Carson Less in the final. They exchanged escapes, but Jensen was able to secure a takedown in sudden victory for a 3-1 win.

Vinton-Shellsburg’s top-ranked Cooper Sanders rolled to the 152 title, posting a 9-3 decision over Benton Community’s No. 7 Brenden Heying. Sanders (35-1) converted on a headlock in the first period for a 5-0 lead, adding a reversal in the second and a third-period takedown.

CCA’s 182-pounder Kaden Phan won gold. He used an escape in the second and a rideout for the final two minutes to beat West Delaware’s Jeryn Funke in the final.

WAMAC CONERENCE TOURNAMENT

At Independence

Teams – 1. West Delaware 248.5, 2. Mount Vernon 232.5, 3. Independence 205.5, 4. South Tama 173.5, 5. Williamsburg 173, 6. Clear Creek Amana 128, 7. Solon 115, 8. Benton Community 114.5, 9. Vinton-Shellsburg 95.5, 10. Marion 73, 11. Center Point-Urbana 19.

Championship matches

106 pounds – Lincoln Schropp (Will) dec. Klayten Perreauilt (MV), 9-7; 113 – Brayden Maury (WD) dec. Cale Nash (CCA), 4-0; 120 – Gavin Jensen (Will) dec. Carson Less (WD), 3-1 SV; 126 – Jase Jaspers (MV) major dec. Kale Wieland (I), 11-3; 132 – Kaden Kremer (I) dec. Carter Lamont (VS), 4-2; 138 – Nile Sinn (Will) dec. Carson Turnis, 6-5; 145 – Jackson Jaspser (I) major dec. Beck Arant, 10-1; 152 – Cooper Sanders (VS) dec. Brenden Heying (BC), 9-3; 160 – Brent Yonkovic (WD) pinned Cael Moore (Will), 5:53; 170 – Henry Ryan (MV) major dec. Conner Parker (Will), 12-3; 182 – Kaden Phan (CCA) dec. Jeryn Funke (WD), 1-0; 195 – Gavin Bridgewater (ST) dec. Will Ward (WD), 5-2; 220 – Rudy Papakee (ST) major dec. Grant Northburg (WD), 11-1; Hwt. – Korver Hupke (I) dec. Cam Geuther (WD), 6-4.