A family trio for two

Chris LeClere and Alex Burkle walked in the footprints of some pretty big shoes the last three years. The North Linn senior duo watched as two of their brothers have won state titles, and take the mat today to begin their final quest to add to the family titles.
“It would mean a ton to me,” said Chris LeClere, whose older brothers Dan, a four-timer, and Nick were state champs for the Lynx. “It would be a weight lifted off my shoulders.”
Burkle is in the exact position. His brothers, Kyle and Tyler, a defending NCAA Division III national champion at Coe, won crowns. The last time North Linn crowned two champions in the same year was when Dan LeClere and Kyle Burkle won titles in 2002.
“We talk about it all the time, and actually, all the time as in every day,” Burkle said. “Chris and I do a good job of being there for each other, making sure we’re both calm.
“He reminds me of having another brother around.”
Both are ranked No. 1, entering the tournament. LeClere is 40-1 at 140 pounds. He’ll face AGWSR’s Ryan Roberts (35-7) first round. Burkle is one of 38 unbeaten state wrestlers with a 39-0 mark at 215. He drew Mount Ayr’s Cade Lambson (35-8).
The pair have wrestled together since preschool. They want nothing more than to win titles together and complete their families’ trifectas.
“We’re pretty determined,” LeClere said. “We want to get it rolling again and leave on a good note.”

Dons dominate to district

FAIRBANK – Jake Thome is linked to the best team in Don Bosco wrestling history. How is a bit oif a debate.
Thome thinks its his current squad, while his dad, Irv, thinks it’s through their relationship since he was a state placewinner for the 1979 Dons team that qualified all 12 wrestlers to state and will lead this year’s state tournament Grand March.
“He likes to make jokes about that. How he was on the best team in Don Bosco history,” Jake Thome said. “I just tell him that my class will be the first to in eight state titles.”
Thome and his Dons teammates made a case for themselves again yesterday. Top-ranked Don Bosco dominated the Class 1A sectional field Saturday at Wapsie Valley High School, claiming the team title with 280 points. North Linn was a distant runner-up with 192 points.
The Dons advanced 12 to district, giving them a chance to send 12 to the state tournament in Des Moines, which would match the number 30 years ago.
“We just try to get as many guys down to state,” said Thome. “It would be neat to get 12 to state and make it a real special occasion.”
Thome was one of eight Don Bosco champions, rolling through the 189-pound bracket with three pins. The fourth-ranked senior stuck East Buchanan’s Jordon Gerbracht in the finals.
“Our team came out strong,” said Thome. “I felt we prepared well all week.”
Vance Ortner (140), Clay Welter (152), Taylor Kettman (171) and No. 2 Corey Becker at 285 pinned their way to sectional titles.
The field contained 18 ranked wrestlers and seven top-rated guys.
“They wrestled well,” Don Bosco Coach Tom Kettman said. “Top to bottom, everyone wrestled relaxed and with a lot of emotion.”
Don Bosco’s second-ranked Cole Welter beat No. 5 Ryan Mulnix of North Linn, in double overtime, riding Mulnix out for the 30-second tiebreaker at 125. They finished tied in regulation and neither could score in overtime.
“I was glad to get the win,” Cole Welter said. “I was confident in my shape. I’m confident on top and on bottom. I thought I could pull it out (in double overtime) and I did.”
Welter excited the crowd, which responded with a big, “Oooohhhh!” when he launched Mulnix with a lateral drop at the start of the match for the bout’s only takedown.
“I felt the pressure and took a little bit of a chance right away,” Welter said. “Luckily, I came out on top.”
Mulnix was one of five qualifiers for No. 6 North Linn. Lynx Coach Brad Bridgewater said the team didn’t have a complete effort and plenty of work lies ahead, preparing for district and the fourth-straight appearance in the regional duals.
“I’m happy for the five that made it (to district),” Bridgewater said. “Those that didn’t get to live another day. Their season is extended.”
Top-ranked Lynx Chris LeClere and Alex Burkle won titles at 140 and 215. LeClere handled the Dons’ Josh Becker, pinning him in 3:18.
“He’s wrestling tough right now,” Bridgewater said of LeClere. “He’s really focused and training hard.”
East Buchanan matched North Linn with two champs and five district qualifiers.
Eighth-ranked Justin Hoffman used a takedown and three late back points to break open the 130 final, beating Wapsie Valley’s Andy Erickson, 9-5. The Bucs’ Jacob Main beat Don Bosco’s Luke Breuer at 160 in an exciting back-and-forth match that had five lead changes. Main took control of the match with a five-point move in the second and held off Breuer with a late takedown to win 15-11.
Alburnett placed its three lightest wrestlers in the finals, but only top-ranked 112-pounder Chris Halblom won a title.
The Pirates top-ranked 103-pound freshman Tyler Shulista surrendered a two-point lead in the final 15 seconds, giving up a reversal and three nearfall points for a 9-6 loss to Jesup’s No. 7 Beau Westpfahl. Alburnett’s Alex German was second at 119.
Halblom edged third-ranked Brandon Welter in the finals. The pair had exchanged escapes until Halblom came out on top of a scramble for the decisive takedown with 58 seconds remaining in the third.
The host Warriors advanced two to district in Erickson and Kevin Spier (171).
The top two individuals in each weight advance to a 1A district meet Feb. 14 at Tipton.
Don Bosco and North-Linn will compete in 1A regional dual semifinals Tuesday at Starmont High School in Arlington. Don Bosco faces Valley Community, while North Linn wrestles South Winneshiek with the winners vying for a state duals berth.
Contact the writer: (319) 368-8679 or kj.pilcher@gazcomm.com

Peaking for the postseason

BELLE PLAINE — If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.

That could be the perfect rule to follow for the Belle Plaine wrestling team, which routinely peaks for the postseason.

The Plainsmen begin their trek for a seventh straight sectional team title Saturday, hosting a Class 1A meet. Over 125 teams in 1A and 96 2A squads take the mat for sectional comeptition. All tournaments begin at noon.

 

The top two sectional placewinners advance to district meets Saturday, Feb. 14. Sectional team champion and runner-up qualify for regional dual semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 10.

 

Second-ranked Belle Plaine recently won its 17th straight South Iowa Cedar League title and attempts to claim its 18th sectional title in the last 19 seasons.

“Right now is when everything is clicks together,” senior Cameron Wagner said. “We start seeing the success of all our hard work in the practice room.”

Late-season success has become a constant in Belle Plaine Coach Bob Yilek’s 15-year tenure.

“They know, and we stress, the (regular) season is a prep toward the end,” said Yilek, who guided Belle Plaine to a state title sweep in 2001. “We’re getting close to the end of the season and that’s where we want to be our best.”

The last two years that has led to consecutive sixth-place state finishes, highlighted by state runner-up finishes by Cameron and Colton Wagner in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

The focus is fixed on state gold, which has eluded members of the team in previous years.

“There’s not a kid on our team who has reached their true goal,” Yilek said. “That’s driving them individually.”

The Plainsmen enter the postseason with five ranked wrestlers, led by top-ranked 130-pounder Drew Hinschberger, a two-time state placewinner and three-time qualifier.

Hinschberger was the first Plainsmen wrestler to eclipse 150 career wins with a fall over Dylan Nelson of Lynnville-Sully in the finals of the South Iowa Cedar League tournament, becoming just the third wrestler in league history to win four titles. Hinschberger, who placed third last year at 119, is 36-1 with 19 pins and the school’s all-time wins leader at 151-26.

“Drew’s had a great season,” Yilek said. “He’s chasing that dream to be a state champion.”

He’s certainly joined by the Wagner twins. Cameron is ranked second at 135 and Colton is second at 140.

“Our perfect vision would be all three of us winning the gold as seniors … finally,” Colton Wagner said. “That would be great.”

The path to the top of the state podium has some big obstacles in the form of familiar names in state wrestling history.

Cameron Wagner is at the same weight as Don Bosco’s Bart Reiter, who is favored to become the state’s 18th four-time state champion, matching older brother Mack’s feat.

Colton Wagner is ranked behind North Linn’s Chris LeClere, who attempts to join brothers, Dan and Nick, as a state champ. As for team gold, three-time defending state champion and nationally-ranked Don Bosco is a huge favorite to win again.

“It’s definitely going to be a dogfight,” Cameron Wagner said. “It’s not going to be a cakewalk.”

Colton Wagner reached the 130-pound finals last year, losing a 5-3 decision to Nashua-Plainfield’s Cody Johnston. The match provided a new perspective.

“I look at it from a whole different angle,” said Colton Wagner, who improved to 34-1 and joined Hinschberger 150 career wins Wednesday with a technical fall against Iowa Valley/HLV. “I think it made me stronger as a wrestler.”

Colton Wagner has survived the agony from losing in the finals and has been anxiously awaiting the postseason.

“It seems like it (the state finals) was a long time ago, but the actual match is fresh in my mind and that’s been really good,” Colton Wagner said. “Motivation to get back there and just keep working hard and know I’ll end up back there.”

Cameron Wagner (34-1) is two years removed from his finals appearance where he lost to Reiter. He won’t shy away from an opportunity to try and play spoiler this time.

“I have no pressure,” Cameron Wagner said. “He has to be feeling a little pressure. I have nothing to lose. I (would) just go out there and wrestle my match.”

Reiter and his Don Bosco teammates have been tagged a sure thing to win their fourth-straight traditional state title. The Plainsmen aren’t ready to concede any trophies.

“I don’t think you can if you want the kids to compete at their best,” Yilek said. “I truly believe there’s an opportunity for us to have a shot at winning the state title. Things will have to go our way.

“Is it going to be a task for us? Yeah it is, but everything in life is tough at times. You have to see what happens. If you don’t give yourself a chance, you’ll never know.”

Belle Plaine’s only blemish in competition was an opening night dual loss to Don Bosco. Since then, The Plainsmen (21-1) haven’t lost in duals or tournaments, including an impressive championship over 2A’s seventh-ranked West Delaware at the Louisa-Muscatine tournament in Letts two weeks ago.

Zakk Buch and Jack O’Brien are both ranked sixth at 103 and 119, respectively, and give Belle Plaine a legitimate shot at five placewinners. Buch is 31-2, while O’Brien has posted a 30-3 record with 101 career wins.

The key to a successful postseason run, and earning the team’s first state trophy since placing third in 2002, is a balance team performance.

“These kids are talented,” Colton Wagner said. “We’ve all worked hard. Everybody’s urging everybody to keep working harder. We always become stronger at the end of the season.”

In other 1A sectional meets, top-ranked Don Bosco will get an early test at Wapsie Valley High School in Fairbank. The field include the Dons and Tri-Rivers powers East Buchanan, No. 6 North Linn and No. 7 Alburnett. The Buccaneers and Lynx battled to the final match at last weekend’s conference tournament, won by East Buchanan.

The 2A sectional at Oelwein will feature fifth-ranked Independence and No. 8 MFL MarMac. The Mustangs and Bulldogs combine for eight ranked wrestlers, including MFL’s No. 2 Andrew Rodas and Independence’s fourth-ranked Blake Bagby at 160.

Contact the writer: (319) 368-8679 or kj.pilcher@gazettecommunications.com