GUTHRIE CENTER — Nine of the 14 wrestlers competing for Woodward-Granger Saturday finished in the top half of their respective weight class brackets, helping to lift the Hawks to fourth place in a strong 18-field at the Charger Invitational.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, ranked eighth in 2A, was first with 236.5 points, with Van Meter/Earlham second at 212. Class 1A No. four Underwood placed third at 164.5, with W-G next with 141.5 points.
Top-ranked (2A) 220-pounder Cody Fisher improved his season record to 36-1 with another invite title. Fisher won by decision to open his march, then scored consecutive major decisions to claim first place.
Also first was Cale Pritchett (34-6), who won the 170-pound bracket. Pritchett recorded two pins to start his quest, then sealed his top spot with victories by major decision and decision.
Rated ninth at heavyweight, Tyler Lawrenson (34-5) finished 2-2 and in fourth place. He scored a pinfall victory and a major decision, with one of his losses coming on a 3-1 decision to VM/E junior Derrin Sesker, who is ranked fourth. Sesker was pinned, in 1:49, in the finals by top-ranked Spencer Trenery of C-G-D, as three ranked 285-pounders testified to the strength of the competition.
A 2-2 mark from Gabe Yingst (26-10) left the Hawk senior in fourth place. Both of Yingst’s wins came on falls.
Dustin Harney (22-21) was 3-2 with a decision and two pins in placing fifth at 138, with Aidan Honkomp (26-14) 2-3 and placing sixth at 113 while Kade Polich (17-11) was sixth at 182 after a 1-3 invite. Also placing were 132-pounder Colt Palmer (24-13), who was 3-2 with three pins to finish seventh while Dilynn Lewiston (9-16) was eighth at 120 with a 2-2 effort.
Joel Harney (16-15) and Matthew White (16-17) were both 1-3, at 106 and 126, respectively, with Jayden Dorenkamp (8-23), Jon McKeever (10-16) and Nathaniel Rosen (7-29) unable to collect wins in two matches apiece at 145, 152 and 195.
W-G will compete in the 2A Sectional 2 at North Polk Saturday. Winners and runner-up finishers from each weight class will advance to the district tourney. In addition to the Hawks and their hosts ADM, Ballard, Saydel and Van Meter/Earlham will also be in competition.
