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THEY SWAM

WEBSTER CITY – Ted Larson likes to say he doesn’t care about the opinions of those outside of his Webster City wrestling program. But rest assured, he pays attention.

“We swam,” Larson, the Lynx head coach, said with a smile on his face following last night’s utter demolition of Algona (63-16) and Iowa Falls-Alden (64-14) in a North Central Conference triangular inside the WCHS Gymnasium.

He was referring to the Daily Freeman-Journal’s “Sink or Swim” headline in a preview of the meet that ran earlier in the day. WCHS no doubt had question marks entering the season opener, most notably the five freshmen in the lineup, but there was very little to nitpick after the Lynx outscored the two foes 127-30.

“I was real pleased with our fight and I was real pleased with our intensity,” Larson said. “We’ve got to keep it all in perspective; both of those programs are not at the top of the conference, but it was good to get these guys some confidence so we can focus on what we need to do.”

Those rookies – Carson Hartnett (113 pounds), Luke Rohmiller (132), Zane Williams (145), Rocco Miller (182) and Cooper Lawson (285) – combined to go 7-3 with three falls and a major decision. Rohmiller and Williams were a perfect 4-0.

“(The freshmen) didn’t go out timid or out there reserved,” Larson said. “They weren’t wrestling scared and that’s huge when you go from the level of middle school to high school.”

WCHS (2-0, 2-0 NCC) went 22-6 in the two duals and piled up 16 pins, as well as a 40-18 advantage in takedowns. Eight grapplers went 2-0 and all 14 had their hand raised at least once. Everyone in the lineup secured at least one bonus point as well, as the Lynx put on a clinic to the tune of a 59-12 edge in that department.

“It was the first night and there are certainly things we need to clean up, but I feel real good about our effort,” Larson said.

Lightweights Derick Khaleck (106) and Freddie Seeley (120) – a returning state qualifier – decked both of their opponents. Ashton High (195), competing at the varsity level for the first time, matched their efforts, as did Gavin Dinsdale (220), who was down a weight class from where he’s ranked No. 8 (Class 2A) at heavyweight.

Khaleck took some lumps a season ago, but he was the one dishing them out last night. He showed Algona’s Cameron Peterson the lights in 2:58, and then used a headlock to flatten the Cadets’ Quiton Buresh in 1:22.

High held a 6-0 lead on the Bulldogs’ Domenic Etherington when he flipped him for the fall in the third period. High then threw IF-A’s Peyton Williams straight to his back and ended it in just 30 seconds.

“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Larson said when asked about High. “I knew that Ashton had the potential and capabilities of coming in as a sleeper. He’s got a natural set of hips that are really beneficial to him.”

Dinsdale spent just 3:15 on the mat, while Seeley needed only 4:17.

The Lynx never trailed at any point in either of the two duals. Rohmiller opened the bout against Algona with a pin over Austin Chase in just 46 seconds, part of a 24-0 start.

Williams hit a neck crank twice on Zac Katschke to built an 11-4 lead and then sunk in a half to pick up the fall in 5:29 at the onset of the dual against the Cadets.

It was 12-8 in the Lynx favor after four weights before a run of five consecutive victories for the home team that pushed the margin to 40-8.

Cole Nokes (126) and Gage Sadler (138) were both 2-0 with a pin.

Joining Hartnett, Miller and Lawson at 1-1 were Collin Oswald (152), Ryan Ferrari (160) and Antrez Conley (170). Hartnett, Oswald, Ferrari and Conley were all winners by fall.

The competition is sure to be stiffer on Saturday when WCHS heads to Grimes for the Dallas Center-Grimes Mustang Invite. Wrestling will get underway at 10 a.m.

IF-A knocked off Algona, 42-39, in the other dual.

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