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WIDE OPEN RACE

Lynx one of several teams that expects to be in title hunt

Webster City 170-pounder Zane Williams (back) looks to break down West Des Moines Dowling’s Jack Paskach during the third-place match at last weekend’s Perry Invitational. Williams takes a 22-6 record into Saturday’s North Central Conference tournament, which will be hosted by Algona. The tournament will get underway at 10 a.m. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WEBSTER CITY — When it comes to the North Central Conference wrestling tournament, Webster City has been the model of consistency.

Written in permanent red marker and circled before the beginning of each season, the Lynx always shine a light on the legendary event that has been around since 1968 and this season is no different.

“Every year it’s something that we want to have a good showing at and it’s a great building block for the postseason,” WCHS head coach Chad Hisler said of the upcoming tournament that will be hosted by Algona on Saturday at 10 a.m.

WCHS has collected three titles and has finished among the top two in seven of the past eight seasons. But it’s been Clarion-Goldfield-Dows that has shown the mettle most recently with back-to-back crowns while the Lynx settled for the runner-up slot in both 2015 and 2016.

Is CGD the favorite again? Is WCHS a contender? Maybe and most definitely.

WCHS heavyweight Bryer McCoy (left) attempts to throw Panorama’s Dan Jensen during a quarterfinal match last Saturday in Perry. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

The truth is, the tournament is as wide open as it’s been in many years. It’s not a stretch to imagine one of four teams — CGD, WCHS, Clear Lake or Humboldt — hoisting the hardware come Saturday night and it will be the squad that can put together the most consistent performance that will walk away smiling.

So, you see, it won’t be all about the kids that make the finals or win individual gold, although those are of the utmost importance. In a race this tight, it will also be about the kids that claw back to place third, or fourth, or, well, you get the picture.

“A lot of different teams could win it … I think this one is about as wide open as it’s ever been,” Hisler said. “We preach to (the wrestlers) all week and all year that it’s the 13 guys we have and every point matters.”

WCHS will bring one defending champion in second-ranked (Class 2A) Drake Doolittle (120 pounds) and one 2016 runner-up in Caleb Olson (195) to the table. Four others — Carson Hartnett (132), Cade Felts (145), Zane Williams (170) and Brandon Peck (182) — were place winners a season ago.

Olson, who has lost just one match in 13 outings, will move down to make room for James Cherry (220) to enter the lineup. The move was needed after Rocco Miller, the Lynx season-long 195-pounder, went down with an undisclosed season-ending injury. It’s not like Cherry is a novice though; he’s 9-2 with a victory over previously ninth-ranked (220) Dominick Etherington of Algona.

Trey Nelson (top) turns West Marshall’s Jack Vawter for the fall at the Perry Invite last weekend. Nelson, Webster City’s 106-pounder, is 19-8 on the season. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“Caleb was obviously holding his own at 220, but I think he’s going to be more competitive at 195,” Hisler said. “I think it’s a good fit for him and hopefully we’ll see him excel there.

“James is one of those guys that doesn’t care where he’s at. He’s just going to go out and give his best effort no matter who he’s wrestling.”

Bryer McCoy will be at heavyweight for the Lynx and he’s coming off a title at the Perry Invitational this past weekend. He’ll have the big shoes of Cooper Lawson to fill. Lawson, the 2016 champion at 285, will be forced to watch because of a season-ending shoulder injury.

Hisler also expects big things from Luke Rohmiller (138), who was a place winner as a freshman in 2015. He missed the 2016 tournament due to injury. Rohmiller will likely be the No. 2 seed behind third-ranked (2A) Tanner Abbas of CGD.

“When Luke is on he’s very good,” Hisler said. “He can do anything that he puts his mind to and he’s not going to shy away from a challenge.”

Webster City junior Luke Rohmiller (back) looks to turn Van Meter’s Bryce Cole during a 138-pound semifinal match at last weekend’s Perry Invitational. Rohmiller will be in the Lynx lineup on Saturday when it competes in the NCC tournament in Algona. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Doolittle will be an overwhelming favorite to win his second crown. And while he’ll be at 120 on Saturday, Hisler still isn’t ready to say where he’ll be come the postseason. He owns a victory over Clear Lake’s Eric Faught, another returning champion and the top-ranked (2A) individual at 113.

“He’s been wrestling at 120 since we’ve come back from break and he’s been wrestling well,” Hisler said. “So he’s going to stay there this week and then we’ll probably make a decision.”

Completing the Lynx lineup will be Trey Nelson (106), Brady Auderer (126), Harrison Hayes (152) and Zane Carter (160). They will be open at 113.

Five 2016 champions return in all, led by top-ranked Ryan Leisure of Clear Lake (145), who will attempt to become the league’s 41st three-time title holder. Joey Busse (138) of Humboldt and fourth-ranked (2A) Michael Kent (170) of Iowa Falls-Alden are the others.

Seven others who are expected to compete were runners-up last winter. A total of seven ranked grapplers are likely to be entered. However, top-ranked Spencer Trenary (285) of CGD has yet to wrestle a match this season. He became eligible at the semester after transferring from Pocahontas Area.

One other ranked individual, ninth-ranked (1A) Cole Allison (126) of St. Edmond is doubtful to compete due to injury.

No weight is expected to have more than one ranked wrestler.

Returning Champions: 113 — Eric Faught, Clear Lake (won at 106 in 2016); 120 — Drake Doolittle, Webster Cit (won at 113 in 2016); 138 — Joey Busse, Humboldt (won at 132 in 2016); 145 — Ryan Leisure, Clear Lake (won at 138 in 2016); 170 — Michael Kent, Iowa Falls-Alden (won at 170 in 2016).

Ranked Wrestlers: Eric Faught, Clear Lake (2A No. 1 at 113); Drake Doolittle, Webster City (2A No. 2 at 120); Dante Tacchia, Iowa Falls-Alden (2A No. 4 at 126); Tanner Abbas, CGD (2A No. 3 at 138); Ryan Leisure, Clear Lake (2A No. 1 at 145); Michael Kent, Iowa Falls-Alden (2A No. 4 at 170); Spencer Trenary, CGD (2A No. 2 at 285).

Webster City Lineup (Records)

106 — Trey Nelson, sr (19-8). 113 — open. 120 — Drake Doolittle, soph (25-2). 126 — Brady Auderer, soph (9-13). 132 — Carson Hartnett, jr (12-4). 138 — Luke Rohmiller, jr (20-7). 145 — Cade Felts, soph (7-9). 152 — Harrison Hayes, jr (7-20). 160 — Zane Carter, sr (2-3). 170 — Zane Williams, jr (22-6). 182 — Brandon Peck, sr (14-5). 195 — Caleb Olson, soph (12-1). 220 — James Cherry, jr (9-2). 285 — Bryer McCoy, jr (9-2).

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