DES MOINES —
A state tournament full of promise and enthusiasm on the opening day ended in disappointment Friday for Central DeWitt.
All three Sabers were eliminated in the consolation second round, where a winner is guaranteed a top-eight finish and a place on the awards stand during tonight's championships.
The disappointment wasn't because of the way the Sabers wrestled. Rather, it came from the way their matches turned out.
"It was a tough day, but the kids fought and did all they could to win their matches," Sabers coach Ed Vance said.
The most difficult loss to accept was the one with the widest margin: sophomore Walker Wegener's loss at 126 pounds.
While the final score, 15-8, was lopsided, and Spencer's John Christopherson, the No. 2-ranked wrestler in Class 2A who had lost to top-rated Max Thomsen earlier in the afternoon, dominated much of the match, Wegener just as easily could have been the one advancing.
Trailing 8-2 early in the second period, Wegener reversed Christopherson to his back and appeared seconds away from getting the pin. But, the referee stopped the match when Christopherson cried out in pain with 1 minute, 27 seconds left in the second period. Walker was awarded the three-point near fall, plus a point for having the match stopped in pinning criteria.
While the points narrowed the score to 8-6, there was no way for Wegener (23-9) to get the momentum back, and since the restart doesn't come with the injured wrestler back on his back, the opportunity for the fall was gone.
"In that situation, our kids have the character not to do that," Vance said. "It's tough swallow. We just have to move on."
Greyson Doolittle also fought back from an 8-2 deficit in his consolation second-round match against Hans Holkesvik of Decorah at 152 pounds. Doolittle got a takedown and two-point near fall to cut the gap to 8-6 but got no closer and lost 11-8.
"It's disappointing to know that Greyson Doolittle, who has worked hard and had a couple of close matches, won't place," Vance said. "I'm 100 percent absolutely proud of him."
Earlier, Doolittle, who ended his senior season with a 28-11 record, lost 9-4 to Jackson VanKirk of Perry in the quarterfinals. VanKirk broke a 4-4 tie on a reversal with 36 seconds remaining, then earned a three-point near fall as time expired.
The Sabers' other quarterfinalist, junior Jake Feldpausch, also lost twice at 195 pounds to finish the season at 33-11. He lost 12-2 in the quarterfinals to Luke Johnson of Charles City, then lost 3-0 to Humboldt's Reed Dreyer in the consolation second round. Dreyer scored the first point on a third-period escape, then sealed the victory with a takedown with 18 seconds left.
"I give him all the credit," Vance said of Feldpausch. "He wrestled the No. 3 kid (Johnson) and the No. 2 kid (Dreyer). He gave it his all."
Sports
February 16, 2013
Sabers’ state trip ends with sadness
- Sports
-
-
Indians' Harksen takes 2nd in 400
DES MOINES -- There's a delicate balance for runners who qualify for the track and field state meet in the 200- and 400-meter dashes. Because there is little more than a half-hour between the races on the opening day of the three-day event, a runner
-
It's close-but-not-quite for Sabers
DES MOINES -- After running the anchor leg and nearly catching Kate Sandage of Greene County in her heat of the shuttle hurdle relay, Central DeWitt's Sam Barr knew it would be a matter of a fraction of a second as to whether the Sabers would earn a
-
Panthers get by Rams
MORRISON, Ill. -- The Riverdale Rams were coming off of an extra innings win over the West Carroll Thunder, 9-8, to get into Wednesday's contest with Erie/Prophetstown. The Rams were unable to continue the momentum. The Panthers came out ready to hit
-
Mustangs score four late to oust Fulton
In the night cap at the field in Morrison the Mustangs hosted the Fulton Steamers, who waste no time getting on the board.
-
Better late for Banker
CLINTON - Jason Banker discovered his talent with the 400-meter low hurdles late in his high school career at Clinton. Last winter, on the eve of his senior season, River Kings track coach Tony Smith approached Banker about trying the event. Until th
- L'Kings can't ride walk-off in split CLINTON -- For a brief time, the Clinton Lumberkings brought their record out of the losing column, doing so in thrilling fashion. Facing Beloit in Game 1 of a home doubleheader, each team could hardly put a runner on base, let alone in scoring posit
- Secret to Success ERIE, Ill. -- Erie/Prophetstown girls track and field coach Don Robinson made a mistake earlier in the season, running sisters Courtney and Rachel Cobert in the same races. The Coberts competed against each other in both the 200- and 400-meter races.
- Steamers oust Rams, 3-2 PORT BYRON, Ill. -- The Fulton Steamers and Riverdale Rams matched ace for ace in the first game of the regional softball playoffs Monday, and the Steamers came out on top 3-2. It was also a record-breaking night for Riverdale Rams senior Sadie Mosh
- Kings advance in team play CLINTON -- Clinton swept the singles matches, winning three of them in the third set, to beat Dubuque Senior 6-0 on Saturday in pre-substate boys tennis team competition at Max Lynn Courts. "I am extremely proud of this team," Clinton coach David Moo
- River Queens go 1-1-1 WEST LIBERTY -- Clinton went 1-1-1 on Saturday at the West Liberty Invitational girls soccer tournament. The River Queens (4-8-1) beat the host school 5-1, tied Mid-Prairie of Wellman 0-0 and then lost 1-0 to Mid-Prairie. The lone goal against Mid-Pr
- More Sports Headlines
-
