With or without fans, Panthers perform well

     Spectator protocols have varied widely throughout the high school winter sports season in Iowa.

     The Monticello High School wrestling team saw the two most extreme examples in a pair of meets last week.

     In a double dual event at Tipton Jan. 14, there were no restrictions; anyone who wanted to buy a ticket could get in.

     The Loyd Shaffer Invitational at Marion Saturday was the complete opposite; no spectators were allowed to view the 13-team event.

     It didn’t stop the Panthers from having strong performances in Marion. They brought six wrestlers to the event, and came away with two champions, four wrestlers in the top three, and everyone finishing seventh or higher.

     “Marion is a very solid tournament, and I was proud of the effort we had throughout the day,” Monticello coach Ryan Luensman said. “This was the first event we had without any fans, and it was different.”

     Coming away with titles were Cael Sampson at 106 pounds and Kale Hansen at 113. Sampson defeated a ranked opponent from Williamsburg in the finals.

     “Cael is starting to figure some things out, and it is exciting to see him progress from meet to meet,” coach Luensman said. “Kale always seems to get stronger throughout the day. He wrestled very well in his finals match, and stayed composed in tough situation.

     “The ‘Cael/Kales’ work out together and it is showing on the mat.”

     Kain Luensman finished second at 138.

     “He popped a rib out in his semifinal match and was able to finish,” the coach said. “I was proud of his effort to take the challenge.”

     Ethan Tallman finished third at 132 pounds. Owen Ray was fifth at 126, and Mark Sunlin finished seventh at 120.

     “Ethan had a strong day, going 4-1. Mark Sunlin had a good win, avenging a loss from Thursday,” coach Luensman said.

     In the Thursday meet at Tipton, the Panthers won two out of three, defeating Tipton 44-36, losing to Wilton 54-24, and beating Bellevue 52-24.

     “This was the first time all year we have been hit with the injury bug,” the coach said. “We had multiple people out and we had to get creative to win some duals.”

     In the Tipton match, Ethan Tallman, Cael Sampson and Kale Hansen won by fall, while Tyler Luensman and Kain Luensman both won by major decision. The Panthers also received three forfeit victories. Luensman weighed in at 145, but wrestled at 152.

     Tallman, Kain Luensman and Kale Hansen won by fall against Wilton, while Owen Thomas and Sampson had decision victories.

     Against Bellevue, the Panthers received six forfeit wins, but also had falls from Tallman and Hansen, as well as a major decision win by Tyler Luensman.

JV tourney

     Monticello sent nine wrestlers to the Independence junior varsity tournament Jan. 16, and every one of them placed eighth or higher.

     Jonah Luensman had the top finish for the Panthers, taking third in his division. Finishing fourth were Ty Tallman and Bryce Cleeton.

     In fifth were Ethan Long, Elias Etzel, Miles Hatchel and Owen Thomas. Skyler Sharp placed sixth, and Zach Yates was eighth.

Jan. 14

(at Tipton)

Monticello 44,

Tipton 36

MATCH RESULTS

(Monticello wrestlers listed first)

     120 – Mark Sunlin won by forfeit. 126 – Owen Ray won by forfeit. 132 – Ethan Tallman pinned Wyatt Lashmit, 2:34. 138 – Tyler Luensman won by major dec. over Colin Nash, 16-5. 145 – Elias Etzel was pinned by Kaleb Nerem, 1:26. 152 – Kain Luensman won by major dec. over Brandon Valet, 11-1. 160 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 170 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 182 – Dakota Olsen was pinned by Payten Elijah, 3:54. 195 – Skyler Sharp won by forfeit. 220 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 285 – Owen Thomas was pinned by Nile Schuett, 4:40. 106 – Cael Sampson pinned Michael Puffer, 3:32. 113 – Kale Hansen pinned Tristin Sorgenfry, 3:39.

Wilton 54,

Monticello 24

MATCH RESULTS

(Monticello wrestlers listed first)

     126 – Owen Ray was pinned by Trae Hagen, 1:34. 132 – Ethan Tallman pinned Maxwell Yohe, 0:50. 138 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 145 – Kain Luensman pinned Cody McDonald, 1:08. 152 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 160 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 170 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 182 – Skyler Sharp was pinned by Karson Willey, 1:39. 195 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 220 – Zach Yates was pinned by Tyrrell Hughes, 0:18. 285 – Owen Thomas dec. Colten Weaver, 4-0. 106 – Cael Sampson dec. Brody Brisker, 6-4. 113 – Kale Hansen pinned Garrett Burkle, 3:39. 120 – Mark Sunlin was pinned by Lucas Dora, 2:22.

Monticello 52,

Bellevue 24

MATCH RESULTS

(Monticello wrestlers listed first)

     132 – Ethan Tallman pinned Dustyn Talbot, 1:21. 138 – Tyler Luensman won by major dec. over Quintin Pickett, 19-5. 145 – Kain Luensman won by forfeit. 152 – open. 160 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 170 – Dakota Olsen won by forfeit. 182 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 195 – Skyler Sharp was pinned by Jack Hiland, 2:28. 220 – Zach Yates was pinned by Ryder Michels, 0:36. 285 – Owen Thomas won by forfeit. 106 – Cael Sampson won by forfeit. 113 – Kale Hansen pinned Will Steinbeck, 0:47. 120 – Mark Sunlin won by forfeit. 126 – Owen Ray won by forfeit.

Jan. 16

Loyd Shaffer Inv.

(at Marion)

TEAM SCORES

     1, Williamsburg 184; 2, Wilton 164.5, 3, Mount Vernon 161; 4, Cedar Rapids Xavier 159; 5, Atlantic-CAM 12; 6, Monticello 122; 7, North Linn 109; 8, Benton Community 105.5; 9, Grinnell 100.5; 10, Marion 99; 11, Maquoketa 93; 12, Keokuk 68; 13, Louisa-Muscatine 27.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

     106 – Cael Sampson (champion) pinned Luke Gehling, BC; pinned Skyler Beck, LM, 0:58; pinned Dylan Heater, G, 3:32; pinned Gavin Jensen, WBG, 1:45.

     113 – Kale Hansen (champion) received a bye; won by major dec. over Jordan Thys, BC, 17-9; pinned Adam Cook, CRX, 3:21; dec. Tytan Guerrero, WBG, 7-4.

     120 – Mark Sunlin (seventh place) pinned Riley Norwood, LM, 0:37; lost by major dec. to Kayden Gryp, WBG, 10-1; was pinned by Nolan Riddle, K, 3:07; pinned Riley Mudd, MV, 0:22; won by tech. fall over Lucas Dora, WTN, 3:41, 18-3.

     126 – Owen Ray (fifth) received a bye; pinned Patrick Slaymaker, NL, 0:57; was pinned by Tate O’Shea, K, 1:47; was pinned by Jacob Coon, MV, 5:13; pinned Connor Murray, CRX, 0:18.

     132 – Ethan Tallman (third) pinned Ayden Stratton, WBG, 1:08; pinned Wyatt Eaton, G, 0:33; lost by major dec. to Jackson Jaspers, MV, 9-1; pinned Ethan Henson, MAQ, 1:42; pinned Jaxson Bell, ACAM, 1:17.

     138 – Kain Luensman (runner-up) received a bye; pinned Henry Ryan, MV, 3:55; won by tech. fall over Blaine Baumgartner, NL, 6:00, 16-1; lost to Kael Brisker, WTN, 9-3.