WAUKEE — The Perry wrestling team made their annual appearance at the Al Garrison Duals Saturday, and for one Bluejay grappler it will be a day he will likely long remember.
Senior Kaleb Olejniczak entered the competition ranked second at 138 pounds and with a 15-0 record this season. He finished 5-0, but the big win was his second of the day, as it marked the 150th triumph of his career.
Now 153-19 overall, the historic moment came at the heaviest Olejniczak has ever competed at as he stepped up to 145 pounds to face Urbandale’s Cael Baethke. Olejniczak won a 13-3 major decision to reach the elevated status.
Zach Thompson (174-30) holds the Perry career victory record, with two-time state champion Kane Seeley (158-18) the only other Bluejay ahead of Olejniczak, himself a three-time state tourney participant who was second, at 126 in Class 3A, last season.
Perry had begun action by suffering a 36-35 loss to Sioux City North. Urbandale topped Perry, 45-23, but the Bluejays bounced back to rip Saydel, 48-15, and Des Moines North/Hoover, 33-19. Traditional power Millard West of Nebraska was a 29-24 winner over Perry in the final dual of the day for the Jays.
Olejniczak had a second major decision, a pin and two wins by forfeit in producing a clean sheet.
Also 5-0 for Perry was 182-pounder Cole Snyder, who had two pins, two decisions and a forfeit.
Cole Nelson was 4-1 with two pins and a forfeit at 106 while recording a pin at 113. Riece Graham bumped up to 120 and suffered a loss in one match, but was otherwise 2-2 at 113 with a pin and a forfeit.
Jacob Nelson had two pins, a major decision and a forfeit in posting a 4-1 mark at 132, with Wilber Ramirez 2-1 at 145 with a pin and a forfeit.
Bryan Funez won a decision at both 145 and 152, with Justin Stammer 3-1 at 152 with a pin, a major decision and one forfeit.
Erick Funez was 1-2 with a forfeit at 160 and 0-2 at 170, with Jered Narber 1-1 with a forfeit at 160 and 2-1 with a decision and a forfeit at 170.
Perry did not contest matches at 120, 126, 195, 220 and 285.
A Thursday visit to Boone will wrap the 2018 portion of the season for the Perry grapplers.
