Perry wrestlers compete at two-day Council Bluffs Classic

December 12, 2016

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pry-wrs-team-bench — Perry head coach Mark Weber (right) and assistants J.P. Hulgan (with clipboard) and Nick Field are joined by the Bluejay bench in urging on a teammate in Woodward last year. Weber said he has been impressed with the "individual hard work, but also the 'team' attitude" he has seen in pre-season practices.

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Four of the nine wrestlers from Perry who participated in the Council Bluffs Classic Friday and Saturday ended their run in the upper (Gold) bracket, placing no less than 16th.

The 27-team field included several powerhouse programs from Nebraska and Kansas along with a scattering of ranked teams from Iowa. Friday’s results determined which grapplers would compete in the top-16 Gold bracket at their respective weight classes Saturday and who would wrestle in the Silver bracket.

Sophomore Kaleb Olejniczak (13-3) was the highest placer for Perry after finishing sixth at 113 pounds. Olejniczak scored two pins and a major decision Friday, with a major decision, a loss by fall and two wins by decision moving him to the fifth place match, where he dropped a 7-4 decision to place sixth. His loss by fall was to 3A top-ranked Kyle Biscoglia of Waukee, with Maxx Mayfield of Lincoln (Neb.) East winning the fifth-place bout.

Zachary Thompson (16-2) was seventh at 120 pounds. He used two technical falls and a decision to move into the Gold bracket, where he claimed a major decision before suffering a loss by tech fall to 3A No. 1 Brody Teske of Fort Dodge. Thompson came back to win a tech fall before losing by fall to Atlantic’s Carter Cox. He won seventh place by medical forfeit.

Perry's Zach Stewart works for an advantage against his opponent from Montezuma Tuesday in Woodward. — Perry’s Zach Stewart works for an advantage against his opponent from Montezuma Tuesday in Woodward.

Zach Stewart (16-2) continued his impressive season by placing seventh at 132. A pin, major decision and decision moved him to the Gold bracket, where he opened with a pin before being handed a 5-3 loss by Riley Alderman of Olathe (Neb.) North. Stewart then won a major decision before losing by fall to Sebas Swiggum of Apple Valley (Min.) with a 5-2 win earning the Bluejay seventh place.

Heavyweight senior Tyler Soll (9-8) won twice by fall before losing by fall Friday. He finished 1-3 Saturday to place 14th. Soll’s only match against an Iowa opponent came in the consolation second round Saturday, where he pinned Landon Hansen of Newton in 1 minute, 48 seconds.

In Silver bracket action, Mana Martinez (126 pounds) finished 23rd, with Justin Stammer (138) and Juan Campos (195) each finishing 25th. Bryan Funez placed 30th at 145 pounds, with Erick Funez 31st and 152 pounds. The Bluejays did not compete at 106, 160, 170, 182 or 220 pounds.

Perry will return to action Thursday when they host Fort Dodge St. Edmond and Carroll. They will then participate in the Waukee Duals Saturday in their final action before the holiday break.