But for just a minute on Saturday, Hisler received his due. The crowd stood, the patrons waved signs and they applauded what the sixth-year head coach has done for the Webster City wrestling program.

And to do it during the Dick Kennedy Memorial Duals, with Rosine Kennedy, the wife of the late Dick Kennedy, in attendance added to the moment for Hisler.

As WCHS wrapped up a 42-33 win over Woodward-Granger during the fourth round of the tournament, Hisler was recognized for reaching 100 career dual victories.

And that’s when the deflections began.

WCHS head coach Chad Hisler watches the action on the mat from the sideline at Saturday’s Dick Kennedy Memorial Duals. Hisler earned his 100th career win as a head coach at the tournament. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“The kids won the matches, not me,” Hisler said after the Lynx put together a 3-1 day to place second behind 4-0 Forest City. “It just means that we’ve had a good program here for the last six or seven years. But it was awesome that Rosine came up and gave me a hug. Dick was my coach and it was great to do it here in front of the home crowd.”

Hisler repeatedly credited the entire wrestling family for the success. He learned under Kennedy and former head coach Ted Larson, who ignited the recent surge for the program more than a decade ago. He said assistant coaches Billy Bertran, Tyler Patten and Joel Kennedy — the son of Dick Kennedy — have been instrumental. And middle school coaches Todd Hartnett, Dylan Fielder, Cole Nokes and Jake Rhoden have handed him young grapplers ready to compete.

“It’s everyone,” Hisler said.

The only thing missing was the championship trophy, which went by the wayside when WCHS (7-6) fell to Forest City (8-2), 43-36, in the second round. The Indians took eight of the 14 weights and accrued 22 bonus points to secure the competitive dual.

“I wish we could have been undefeated because I think we let one go,” Hisler said. “I thought we were flat early on and we’re still giving up pins where I don’t think we should be. But we wrestled better as the day went on.”

WCHS heavyweight Eric Lomeli (back) works from the top position against Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Nate Royer on Saturday. Lomeli pinned Royer in 5:04 and the Lynx won the dual, 45-35. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

The Lynx opened the day with a 45-35 victory over Cedar Rapids Xavier (2-9) and its head coach Ryan Chambers, a 1989 WCHS graduate, and then capped the tourney by dismantling Roland-Story (2-11), 57-19.

Top-ranked Cam Phetxoumphone (106 pounds) and Chase Rattenborg (132) both went 4-0 for WCHS, while three others — Reece Sadler (120), Austin Mason (138) and CJ Hisler (170) — posted 3-1 marks. Nick Gasca (145) went 2-1; Ryan Zeutlau (126), Evan Estlund (152), Cole Bingham (160) and Trey Shannon (220) were all 2-2. Kyle Gose (106), Truman Klein (182), Dylan Burnette (195) and Eric Lomeli (285) all picked up one win.

“We had a lot of kids get big wins,” Chad Hisler said.

Rattenborg, a junior, decked all four of his opponents to improve to 14-5 with nine pints on the season. He now sits with 82 career victories, potentially within shot this season of becoming the Lynx 20th wrestler all-time with 100 career wins.

“He’s one of the leaders of the team and he pushes the whole team in the (practice) room,” Hisler said of Rattenborg. “Having him go 4-0 in the last home meet of the season is great.”

Webster City freshman Austin Mason (back) dumps Woodward-Granger’s Jayden Flugge-Smith onto his back during their 138-pound scrap at Saturday’s Dick Kennedy Memorial Duals inside the WCHS gymnasium. Mason won the match by fall and went 3-1 on the day to match the Lynx record. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Rattenborg used his length to repeatedly get to the legs of his foes. Two of his falls came in the first period and none of the four bouts were close.

“I’ve been trying to wrestle a lot smarter this year and I think I have,” Rattenborg said. “Going out there and getting it done as quick as I can, that’s the goal. Less time on the mat gives me more energy for my next match.”

Phetxoumphone, a perfect 19-0 this season, had to bump up to 113 to finally get a match following back-to-back forfeits in the opening two rounds. He notched a fall and 17-1 technical fall in just 2:32.

Sadler racked up a pair of falls and scored bonus points in all three of his wins. CJ Hisler also had two pins, as well as a major decision win.

Including wins by forfeit, WCHS went 31-25 overall, and 23-25 on the mat. Twenty of the wins came by fall.

Webster City freshman 195-pounder Dylan Burnette (top) finishes off Forest City’s Drake Freeman by fall in just 30 seconds after connecting on a lateral drop at Saturday’s Dick Kennedy Duals. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Woodward-Granger (6-7) finished third, Xavier fourth and Roland-Story fifth.

WCHS will return to North Central Conference action on Thursday at Hampton-Dumont. On Saturday, the Lynx will head to Marshalltown for the Allie Morrison Duals.

Dick Kennedy Memorial Duals

Saturday at Webster City

Webster City 45, CR Xavier 35

170 — CJ Hisler (WC) pinned Justin Adams, 2:08 (6-0). 182 — Michael Steffen (CRX) pinned Truman Klein, 1:08 (6-6). 195 — Ryan Volk (CRX) pinned Dylan Burnette, 1:13 (6-12). 220 — Ryan Cook (CRX) pinned Trey Shannon, 3:47 (6-18). 285 — Eric Lomeli (WC) pinned Nate Royer, 5:04 (12-17*). 106 — Cam Phetxoumphone (WC) forfeit (18-17). 113 — Lucas Osterhaus (CRX) pinned Brayden Henely, 3:38 (18-23). 120 — Reece Sadler (WC) pinned Connor Murray, 3:21 (24-23). 126 — Ryan Zeutlau (WC) pinned TJ Cook, 3:21 (30-23). 132 — Chase Rattenborg (WC) pinned Will Hacke, 0:34 (36-23). 138 — Austin Mason (WC) pinned Jevin Rexroth, 1:02 (42-23). 145 — Christian Stanek (CRX) pinned Nick Gasca, 3:02 (42-29). 152 — Evan Estlund (WC) dec. Eddy Rodriguez, 7-1 (45-29). 160 — Caelen Shannon (CRX) pinned Cole Bingham, 5:40 (45-35).

*Xavier deducted 1 team point on unsportsmanlike conduct.

Forest City 43, Webster City 36

182 — Reese Moore (FC) pinned Klein, 1:09 (6-0). 195 — Burnette (WC) pinned Drake Freeman, 0:30 (6-6). 220 — Shannon (WC) pinned Carson Buffington, 1:13 (6-12). 285 — Austin Kelso (FC) pinned Lomeli, 0:36 (12-12). 106 — Phetxoumphone (WC) forfeit (12-18). 113 — Kellen Moore (FC) pinned Henely, 5:22 (18-18). 120 — Brock Moore (FC) maj. dec. Sadler, 10-1 (22-18). 126 — Ethan Sesker (FC) pinned Zeutlau, 3:00 (28-18). 132 — Rattenborg (WC) pinned Austin Kirschbaum, 5:24 (28-24). 138 — Kaleb Umbaugh (FC) dec. Mason, 10-6 (31-24). 145 — Hayden Hoffmeyer (FC) pinned Jordan Vankham, 3:57 (37-24). 152 — Kristian Guderson (FC) pinned Estlund, 3:36 (43-24). 160 — Bingham (WC) forfeit (43-30). 170 — Hisler (WC) pinned Blake Skjeie, 3:44 (43-36).

Webster City 42,

Woodward-Granger 33

220 — Cody Fisher (W-G) forfeit (0-6). 285 — Tyler Lawrenson (W-G) pinned Shannon, 5:11 (0-12). 106 — Kyle Gose (WC) forfeit (6-12). 113 — Phetxoumphone (WC) pinned Joel Harney, 0:55 (12-12). 120 — Sadler (WC) pinned Corbyn Atwell, 1:34 (18-12). 126 — Zeutlau (WC) pinned Tjaden Smeltzer, 0:55 (24-12). 132 — Rattenborg (WC) pinned Matthew White, 3:04 (30-12). 138 — Mason (WC) pinned Jayden Flugge-Smith, 1:32 (36-12). 145 — Gasca (WC) pinned Jayden Dorenkamp, 1:11 (42-12). 152 — Dustin Harney (W-G) dec. Estlund, 8-4 (42-15). 160 — Jon McKeever (W-G) dec. Bingham, 12-5 (42-18). 170 — Cale Pritchett (W-G) dec. Hisler, 5-2 (42-21). 182 — Kade Pollich (W-G) pinned Klein, 0:22 (42-27). 195 — Devan Brown (W-G) pinned Burnette, 0:59 (42-33).

Webster City 57, Roland-Story 19

285 — Colin Hansen (R-S) pinned Lomeli, 1:53 (0-6). 106 — Phetxoumphone (WC) tech fall Ben Sarver, 17-1, 2:32 (5-6). 113 — Joe Hovick (R-S) dec. Henely, 6-2 (5-9). 120 — Sadler (WC) forfeit (11-9). 126 — Christian Eslick (R-S) maj. dec. Zeutlau, 10-2 (11-13). 132 — Rattenborg (WC) pinned Jay Sanderson, 1:32 (17-13). 138 — Mason (WC) forfeit (23-13). 145 — Gasca (WC) pinned Caden Sporleder, 1:27 (29-13). 152 — Estlund (WC) forfeit (35-13). 160 — Bingham (WC) pinned Jackson Sterle, 4:40 (41-13). 170 — Hisler (WC) maj. dec. Eli Thorson, 12-4 (45-13). 182 — Klein (WC) forfeit (51-13). 195 — Jimmy Philipsen (R-S) pinned Burnette, 2:40 (51-19). 220 — Shannon (WC) pinned Max Petzenhauser, 1:41 (57-19).