Eight Cadets advance to districts, team places second at sectionals

NEW HAMPTON - Wrestlers throughout Iowa would be wise to heed the following advice - never count out anyone on the Crestwood wrestling team.

Battling stellar competition at the Class 2A Sectional Tournament Saturday in New Hampton, a total of eight Crestwood wrestlers finished in the top two to advance to the District Tournament Saturday, Feb. 11 at noon in Decorah. 

As a team, the Cadets placed second with 207 points to earn a berth in the Region Team Dual Tournament, which was held Feb. 7 at Tripoli High School.

Crestwood faced Gilbert in the first round of the Region Team Duals, and Charles City competed against Denver-Tripoli in the first round. The winner of the finals advanced to the State Team Duals Feb. 15 in Des Moines. Results from the region team duals will be in next week’s Times Plain Dealer.

Competing at sectionals, Kaden Anderlik (113) and Trae Pecinovsky (152) both grabbed first place at sectionals. Cadets who took second place included: Matthew Slifka (106), Ryan Steffen (132), Colter Bye (138), Chris Guest (145), Trevor Trende (195) and Jacob Knutson (285).

Crestwood Head Coach Keith Slifka said he was thrilled to see all the Cadets battle hard throughout the tourney.

“We started the day out a little bit slow in the first round,” Slifka said. “We had a couple disappointments in the first round, but we competed better in the second round. I was very pleased with how we wrestled in the last round, including getting some extra points. Decorah was ahead of us going into the last round, but we had some exceptional matches in the final round (to pull ahead of them and take second). 

“At 106 pounds, Matthew Slifka found something inside of him to earn a win against Kyzer Engen of Decorah in the second place match. I’m not surprised (with the way Matthew wrestled), but I am happy for him. I’m glad to see him make some steps (to keep improving). He is on a mission,” the coach said.

Coach Slifka noted he was happy to see Kaden Anderlik earn a strong win over Mason Cleveland of New Hampton in the finals to capture a title at 113.

“Ryan Steffen was in a tough weight class at 132, but he competed well to place second. Colter Bye took second at 138, and he is close (to getting some big wins).

“At 145, Chris Guest had not beaten Keegan Tenge of New Hampton before Saturday, but we (as coaches) were ecstatic to see him earn a 10-6 decision over Tenge (in the semifinals). When he won that match, we knew that anything is possible for our team. Our guys really stuck together, stayed the course and things turned out well for us,” Slifka said.

The coach was also happy to see Trae Pecinovsky (152) chalk up wins over Drew Boeding of New Hampton in the semis and Bryan Graves of Oelwein in the finals to win a section title.

Slifka was pleased to see Trevor Trende earn an exciting 7-5 win over Areon Day of New Hampton in the second place match at 195 to punch his ticket to districts.

“Trevor’s win over Day was huge for us,” Slifka said. “It was a big momentum swing for us. Trevor did not quit wrestling (throughout the match).”

Slifka said he was also excited to see Jacob Knutson capture second place at 285 to earn a trip to districts.

Team standings: 1. New Hampton 251.5 points; 2. Crestwood 207; 3. Decorah 190; 4. Oelwein 141; 5. North Fayette Valley 138; 6. Waukon 91.

Crestwood individual results are as follows.

106 - Matthew Slifka 2nd

Quarterfinal - Matthew Slifka (CW) received a bye; Semifinal - Dylan Robinson (NH) won by fall over Slifka (CW) (Fall 3:45); 3rd Place - Slifka (CW) won by fall over Tyler Block (Wauk) (Fall 1:53);  2nd Place - Matthew Slifka (CW) won by fall over Kyzer Engen (D) (Fall 1:06).

113 - Kaden Anderlik 1st 

Quarter - Kaden Anderlik (CW) received a bye; Semi - Anderlik (CW) won by fall over Mason Olsgard (D) (Fall 1:58); 1st Place - Anderlik (CW) won by dec over Mason Cleveland (NH) (Dec 11-6).

120 - Hunter Fousek 5th

Quarter - Miles Hansmeir (Wauk won by fall over Hunter Fousek (CW) (Fall 2:53); Cons. Semi - Fousek (CW) received a bye; 5th Place - Fousek (CW) won by fall over Blake Smith (Oel)  (Fall 1:30).

126 - Cade Wenthold 5th

Quarter - Joel Grimes (NFV) won by fall over Cade Wenthold (CW) (Fall 3:02); Cons. Semi - Cade Wenthold (CW) received a bye; 5th Place - Cade Wenthold (CW) won by major dec over Corban Rowley (D) (MD 17-8).

132 - Ryan Steffen 2nd

Quarter - Ryan Steffen (CW) received a bye; Semi - Steffen (CW) won by fall over Riley Hershey (O) (Fall 1:08); 1st Place - Noah Fye (NH) won by dec over Steffen (CW) (Dec 9-2); 2nd Place - Steffen (CW) won by rule over Riley Hershey (O).

138 - Colter Bye 2nd

Quarter - Colter Bye (CW) received a bye; Semi - Colter Bye (CW) won by dec over Nathan Benzing (Wauk) (Dec 2-0); 1st Place - Keaton Geerts (NH) won by fall over Colter Bye (CW) (Fall 1:41); 2nd Place - Colter Bye (CW) won by rule over Nathan Benzing (Wauk).

145 - Chris Guest 2nd

Quarter - Chris Guest (CW) received a bye; Semi - Guest (CW) won by dec over Keegan Tenge (NH) (Dec 10-6); 1st Place - Carter Block (O) won by fall over Guest (CW) (Fall 3:37); 2nd Place - Guest (CW) won by fall over Tanner Knutson (D) (Fall 0:45).

152 - Trae Pecinovsky 1st

Quarter - Trae Pecinovsky (CW) received a bye; Semi - Pecinovsky (CW) won by dec over Drew Boeding (NH) (Dec 6-1); 1st Place - Pecinovsky (CW) won by maj dec over Bryan Graves (O)  (MD 24-13).

160 - Tyrone Grant 5th

Quarter - Kaiden Loyd (NFV) won by fall over Tyrone Grant (CW) (Fall 2:57); Cons. Semi - Grant (CW) received a bye; 5th Place - Grant (CW) received a bye.

170 - Wyatt Scheidel 5th

Quarter - Adam Hovden (D) won by fall over Wyatt Scheidel (CW) (Fall 1:16); Cons. Semi - Scheidel (CW) received a bye; 5th Place - Scheidel (CW) won by maj dec over Kyle Gordon (Wauk)  (MD 12-4).

182 - Stone Peckham 4th

Quarter - Stone Peckham (CW) won by fall over Max Schwickerath (NH) (Fall 3:13); Semi - Daniel Ott (D) won by fall over Stone Peckham (CW) (Fall 3:31); 3rd Place - Avery Walker (O) won by maj dec over Peckham (CW) (MD 20-10).

195 - Trevor Trende 2nd

Quarter - Trevor Trende (CW) won by fall over Drew Berger (NFV) (Fall 1:33); Semi - Andy Lillegraven (D) won by maj dec over Trende (CW) (MD 13-2); 3rd Place - Trende (CW) won by fall over Robby Mckeeman (O) (Fall 3:26); 2nd Place - Trende (CW) won by dec over Areon Day (NH) (Dec 7-5).

220 - Jared Knutson 3rd

Quarter - Jared Knutson (CW) won by fall over Jeremy Bamford (O) (Fall 2:45); Semi - Jordan Baumler (NFV) won by fall over Jared Knutson (CW) (Fall 3:40); 3rd Place - Jared Knutson (CW) won by fall over Alex Brink (Wauk) (Fall 1:58);  2nd Place - Noah Hopp (NH) won by fall over Jared Knutson (CW) (Fall 1:21).

285 - Jacob Knutson 2nd

Quarter - Jacob Knutson (CW) received a bye; Semi - Jacob Knutson (CW) won by maj dec over Daniel Schwartzhoff (D)  (MD 11-0); 1st Place - Ethan Lape (NFV) won by dec over Jacob Knutson (CW) (Dec 6-2);  2nd Place - Jacob Knutson (CW) won by fall over Noah Fenske (NH) (Fall 2:53).