Five finalists give boost to Monticello at Alburnett

     When you get a majority of your wrestlers into the finals of a tournament, you know your team is doing something right.

     The Monticello Panthers sent nine wrestlers to the Alburnett Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 20, and came away with a third place finish out of eight teams. The fact Monticello qualified five of those nine into championship matches had much to do with it.

     Three of the five were champions: Kain Luensman at 120 pounds, Chase Luensman at 132, and Lake Stahlberg at 220.

     Kain Luensman scored three straight pins before winning by a 7-0 decision in the finals over Seth Thompson of English Valleys. Chase Luensman also had three pins and a decision; his title match was a pin of Cascade’s Connor Coslin at 2:46. Lake Stahlberg received a bye, won twice by pin, and outlasted Damon Meyer of South Winnishiek 8-3 in the finals.

     Taking second for the Panthers were Thomas Broderick at 152, and Gavin Holub at 182, each of whom went 3-1 with three pins.

     Bo Kramer was fourth at 126 pounds. Taking fifth were Alaina Sunlin (106), Andrew Wall (120) and Tyler Kuper (285).

     South Winneshiek won the team title with a score of 272. Dike-New Hartford was second with 216, the Panthers were third with 204, and Iowa Valley of Marengo placed fourth with 160.

     Earlier, the Panthers traveled to West Liberty to compete in a rescheduled quadrangular meet Jan. 16; it had been postponed Jan. 11.

     Monticello won all three of its matches; 54-18 over Clayton Ridge, 60-12 over Central Elkader, and 57-12 over Starmont.

     The Panthers benefitted from a total of 20 opponent forfeits over the three duals, but also had some big wins on the mat. Sunlin and Broderick each scored two pins. Holub had a pin, and Kain Luensman won a decision, both in the Starmont match.

     Monticello will compete in the River Valley Conference Tournament Saturday, Jan. 27 at Mid-Prairie of Wellman. Competition is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Jan. 16

Monticello 54,

Clayton Ridge 18

(Monticello wrestlers listed first)

     106 – Alaina Sunlin pinned Lane Kuehl, 0:30. 152 – Thomas Broderick pinned Andrew Mitchess, 0:38. Panthers winning by forfeit were Lane Stahlberg at 220, Adam Terry at 285, Hope Hunter at 113, Kain Luensman at 120, Ethan Tallman at 126, Chase Luensman at 132, and Skyler Sharp at 145. Monticello lost by forfeit at 170, 182 and 195. 160 was open.

Monticello 60,

Central Elkader 12

     126 – Ethan Tallman was pinned by Andrey Shirbroun, 3:18. 145 – Skyler Sharp was pinned by Justin Cook, 5:08. Panthers winning by forfeit were Adam Terry at 285, Alaina Sunlin at 106, Hope Hunter at 113, Kain Luensman at 120, Chase Luensman at 132, Thomas Broderickat  152, Gavin Holub at 182, and Lake Stahlberg at 220. 138, 160, 170 and 195 were open.

Monticello 57,

Starmont 12

     113 – Alaina Sunlin pinned Kari German, 1:24. 126 – Kain Luensman dec. Mitchell Hayes, 4-0. 152 – Thomas Broderick pinned Spencer Moine, 1:15. 195 – Gavin Holub pinned Bryce Moine, 2:44. Panthers winning by forfeit were Hope Hunter at 106, Ethan Tallman at 120, Chase Luensman at 132, Skyler Sharp at 145, and Mason Reuter at 285. Monticello lost by forfeit at 170 and 182. 138 and 160 were open.

Exhibition

     220 – Adam Terry was pinned by Declan Johanns, 3:55.

Jan. 20

Alburnett Inv.

TEAM SCORES

     1, South Winneshiek 272; 2, Dike-New Hartford 216; 3, Monticello 204; 4, Iowa Valley 160; 5, Alburnett 155; 6, Cascade 142; 7, North Cedar 95; 8, English Valleys 84.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

     106 – Alaina Sunlin (fifth place) was pinned by Felicity Taylor, SW, 3:907; was pinned by Jaymus Wilson, A, 1:08; was pinned by Keegan Cope, EV, 4:49; was pinned by Aidan Noonan, C, 3:10.

     120 – Kain Luensman (champion) pinned Kiara Musser, NC, 1:21; pinned Logan Smith, Alburnett, 0:59; was pinned by Conlee Loyns, DNH, 0:35; dec. Seth Thompson, EV, 7-0.

     120 – Andrew Wall (fifth) lost by tech. Fall to Gabe Sadler, SW, 18-1, 50:0; received a bye; was pinned by Seth Thompson, EV, 1:34; pinned Logan Smith, A, 4:50.

     126 – Bo Kramer (fourth) dec. Chase Miller, NC, 12-9; was pinned by Grant Bixby, DNH, 1:38; was pinned by Nolan NOOnan, C, 0:51; pinned Lee Sloan, A, 04:8; was pinned by Kayne Marshall, IV, 1:45.

     132 – Chase Luensman (champion) pinned Cael Hall, IV, 1:39; pinned Blain Stewart, DNH, 1:56; pinned Gavin Patterson, IV, 3:23; dec. Zach Taylor, SW, 13-6; pinned Connor Coslin, C, 2:46.

     152 – Thomas Broderick (runner-up) pinned Carson Givens, A, 0:47; pinned Isaiah Moncada, IV, 2:14; pinned Dawson Huinker, SW, 0:29; was pinned by Tanner Tollefsrud, SW, 1:36.

     182 – Gavin Holub (runner-up) pinned Cael Hester, EV, 3:31; pinned Kolby Morris, A, 1:20; pinned Zach Starbuck, DNH, 1:38; was pinned by Gabe Kipp, SW, 255:; pinned Jacob Wirtanen, IV, 0:33.

     220 – Lake Stahlberg (champion) received a bye; pinned Brad Cunningham, DNH, 3:24; pinned Noah McCammant, EV, 4:40; dec. Damon Meyer, SW, 8-3.

     285 – Tyler Kuper (fifth) lost to Chase Gallagher, NC, 14-7; was pinned by Chase Ahrends, DNH, 0:26; pinned Bentley Schott, EV, 0:58; pinned Parker Wieck, IV, 5:55.