Wrestlers struggle at Urbandale Invite

By Zach Smith 2006

Even the return of all-conference wrestler Drew Rose couldn’t save the Tiger wrestlers this week as they traveled to Urbandale Invitational. Sometimes referred to as the “mini state tournaments,” the Urbandale Invite boast some of the best in season wrestling of the year.

The Tigers faced some of the stiffest competition of the year but handled it well, even without wrestlers at three weight classes. The Tigers placed sic wrestlers in all, including three third place finishes. The Tigers look to carry this over to the upcoming conference and district tournaments.

“Even though I lost my first match, I think that it will help for Districts. I’ll be in better shape and get a better seed,” junior Kyle Schultz (7th at 125 pounds) said.

“I had a great day. That first match kind of woke me up and got me going. I just wish I could have it back,” Schultz said. Other Tiger wrestlers that place included Matt Lee who placed 8th at 119s pounds; Daniel Twito, who had to fight back from a quarterfinal upset to get 3rd at 130 pounds; and Daniel Humpal who took 3rd at 135 pounds and beat three ranked wrestlers over the course of the day including his 3rd place match victory over Zach Tibbets of Dowling.

Humpal cam back from down three to upset seventh-rated Tibbets 6-4. Brett Wetzel avenged a loss to Kennedy’s Jared Hanson in the consolation semifinals taking the match 5-3, then beat Brad Martin of Winterset 6-5 for third place.

“It felt good to get that Kennedy kid back from Thursday (Hanson dec. Wetzel 9-1), and I was pumped for the rematch,” Wetzel said.

Rose also saw his first action since a knee injury sidelined him after the Keith Young Invitational. For Rose it is all about getting back to full strength and getting to Des Moines for the state tournament. “I’m just not in my groove yet,” Rose said. Rose took fifth at a solid 215-pound weight class.

Some wrestlers thought that intensity played a part in early round losses as well. “I had an upset stomach in my (quarterfinal) match, and I just wasn’t ready to go, but I came back strong and wrestled smart and tough over the course of the day,” Twito said.

Some of the Tigers’ competition included over 30 rate wrestlers from around the state. Top-rated Nate Moore of Iowa City West took home a championship at 103 pounds with a second period fall over Bettendorf’s Nick Trizzino.

Defending state champions Russell Weakley of Fort Madison (112), Joey Slaton of Cedar Rapids Kennedy (130) and Mitch Mueller of Iowa City West (135) all took home championships in their respective weight classes.

Class 2A top-rated Laramie Schaefer of Winterset scored a 2-0 win over Matt Burns of Urbandale in the championship at 125 pounds. Other champions included Kalvin Hodge (140) from Iowa City West, 3rd-rated Brad Lower of Burlington scored an 11-2 major decision over 10th-rated Brooks Wheelan of Dubuque Hempstead at 145 pounds.

The biggest upset of the day belonged to Calvin Barber (rated 10th in 2A) of Winterset handling Logan Allen (rated 7th in 3A) of Council Bluffs 9-3 at 152 pounds. Ryan Lavin won an explosive 8-4 decision over Derek Lindle of Bettendorf for the championship at 160 pounds.

Brother Austin and Bryce Boehm were flawless on their way to back-to-back championships at 171 and 189. Urbandale continued it’s mean streak with Nick Shandri upsetting Greg Reckman of Bettendorf 3-2 at 215 pounds.

At heavyweight, Cedar Rapids Washington’s Blake Rowland won a 2-1 double overtime slugfest over Andy Swedenhjelm of Dowling. Iowa City West (top rated in class 3A) won the team title placing all but one of their wrestlers and taking home three individual champions.

The Tigers will next be in action Thursday at Cedar Rapids Washington.