Mother Nature was the ultimate winner in 2019, as she forced the cancellation of the conference tournament.

South Hamilton will play host when wrestling gets underway at 5 p.m.

League dual champion Gilbert enters the fray as the odds on favorite to claim the team title, with North Polk among a host of schools looking to knock the Tigers off the perch. Greene County could also play a factor, and 2017 and 2018 champion Prairie City-Monroe has several hammers in its lineup that are capable of gobbling up plenty of points.

“Every team is going to bring some quality kids to the table,” South Hamilton head coach Dan Brodie said. “But I think Gilbert, just top to bottom, has a really strong lineup this year. They’re poised to do well unless we and others can make some things happen.”

South Hamilton head coach Dan Brodie offers instructions as junior Lane Swenson (left) looks on during a recent meet. The Hawks will host the HOIC tournament this evening in Jewell. Wrestling is slated to begin at 5 p.m. Photo by Angela Hewitt

With three openings in its lineup, South Hamilton isn’t expected to be a contender for the team title. However, that doesn’t mean the Hawks are simply going to be bystanders. Brodie sees spots where his group can accrue points, and it begins with junior leaders Lane Swenson (170 pounds) and Trevor Thompson (195).

Swenson (25-2) won his first 19 matches of the season and has dropped just one bout to a league foe, that coming on Tuesday against Gilbert’s Aiden Carr, 7-4.

Brodie says Swenson has all of the tools needed to stand at the top of the podium when all is said and done tonight.

“Lane is going to have a tough go at it because he’s going to have a solid weight class,” Brodie said. “He’s going to have to focus on each match, he can’t think of the round that’s coming next.”

A rematch with Carr is a possibility.

“We’re going to have to go back and have a better game plan if that match happens,” Brodie said. “Carr did d a really nice job of shutting Lane’s offense down and frustrating him through the first two periods. Lane had a hard time working through some of his hand defense and gave up some points he shouldn’t have.”

Thompson (28-4) also has just one conference blemish on his resume — a 5-1 decision to 10th-ranked (Class 2A) Jacob Steenhoek of Gilbert at the Jim Kinyon Invitational in Story City back in December.

“If Trevor brings the right mindset and works his way through the early rounds of the tournament, I think his goal should be to claim the top spot,” Brodie said. “He’s got the tools to do it.”

Colton Willis (220) brings a 17-5 record into the tournament, but will face one of the deepest brackets. No. 8-ranked Cayden Meskan of Gilbert will be the favorite.

The rest of South Hamilton’s lineup will include Alan Gandara (126), Jose Galdeano (132), Kaelen Miller (138), Connor Caudle (145), Sheldon Tapper (152), Brent Greenfield (160), Elijah Balderas (182) and Stellen Willis (285).

A total of nine ranked individuals are expected to compete. Gilbert boasts four of them, including No. 6 Cael Ihle (126) and No. 8 Carson Johnson (160).

Greene County freshman McKinley Robbins (106) and PCM junior Colby Tool (152) are the highest ranked grapplers (No. 3) at their respective weights. Robbins’ lone loss this season was a 7-4 decision against top-ranked (2A) Cam Phetxoumphone of Webster City in early December. Tool, a sixth-place finisher at state a season ago, missed the entire month of December.

Ihle, as well as a PCM trio — ninth-ranked Landon Fenton (132), seventh-ranked Payton Drake (138) and Jace Smith (285) — are all former conference champions. Drake is a two-time gold medalist.

If weather forces the postponement of the tournament this evening, South Hamilton athletic director Todd Coy says the make-up date will be Monday.

What: HOIC tournament.

When: Tonight, 5 p.m.

Where: South Hamilton High School, Jewell.

Teams: Gilbert, Greene County, Nevada, North Polk, PCM, Roland-Story, Saydel, South Hamilton.

Ranked Individuals (All Class 2A)

106 — 3. McKinley Robbins, fr, Greene County.

126 — 6. Cael Ihle, jr, Gilbert.

132 — 9. Landon Fenton, jr, PCM.

138 — 7. Payton Drake, sr, PCM.

152 — 3. Colby Tool, jr, PCM.

160 — 8. Carson Johnson, sr, Gilbert.

182 — 8. Dylan Meiners, jr, North Polk.

195 — 10. Jacob Steenhoek, sr, Gilbert.

220 — 8. Cayden Meskan, jr, Gilbert.

South Hamilton Lineup

106 — Open. 113 — Open. 120 — Open. 126 — Alan Gandara, soph, (4-11). 132 — Jose Galdeano, sr (10-17). 138 — Kaelen Miller, soph (7-14). 145 — Connor Caudle, soph (3-12). 152 — Sheldon Tapper, sr (5-22). 160 — Brent Greenfield, soph (14-14). 170 — Lane Swenson, jr (25-2). 182 — Elijah Balderas, soph (7-5). 195 — Trevor Thompson, jr (28-4). 220 — Colton Willis, jr (17-5). 285 — Stellen Willis, soph (1-8).