Hound wrestlers come out of break with win

Getting ready for districts

I've had a couple matches I shouldn't have lost this year, but I'm using that to get ready for districts - to come back and make it to state this year.”

Logan Pennock, Bloodhound wrestler

FORT MADISON - The holiday eggnog didn't take its toll on the Bloodhound wrestlers.

The Hounds came out of the break and scored a 47-28 win over Washington in a Southeast Conference dual meet Thursday night in the Hound Dome.

The Hounds took advantage of some late wins and some open Demon weights to get the win.  The Hounds won by forfeit in five weight classes, while only surrendering a match at 106.

"I knew Washington would have some open weights, but I also knew they had some tough kids, too, so we did not take them lightly by any means," Head Coach Ryan Smith said.

"We didn't hit the wall coming out of the break."

Fort Madison got late decisions from Logan Pennock at 132, wrestling up a class from his normal 126, and from Nolan Riddle at 145.

Pennock outscored Washington's Jack Kleese 10-0. Pennock just missed going to state last year at 120 pounds, finishing third in the Iowa City districts. He said he's using that loss and some losses this year to get ready for this year's district qualifier.

"I've had a couple matches I shouldn't have lost this year, but I'm using that to get ready for districts - to come back and make it to state this year," Pennock said.

"Just learning to never give up and fight your hardest. I went through a lot, got beat quite a bit, but this year it feels a bit different. It feels like I'm more capable."

Isaac Thacher wrapped things up with a pin  over Curtis Stender at 195 a minute into the second period.

Riddle also finished 3rd last year with the top two in each weight class advancing to state. This year's rules have changed and the top 3 will advance to state.

"Today went pretty well for us as a team. I really wanted to get a pin, but that didn't happen. Just gotta keep working," the junior said.

"I think I need to create more offense and wear them down before I try going for it. I need to get my offense firing on all cylinders and make sure I'm in good shape with a good mindset."

Smith said he gave the kids about five days off during the break. He was impressed with Emmett Kruse's win at 160 and Hayden Woolever's fight at 126.

Woolever lost 15-5 and kept the points for Washington down to four  as opposed to six for a pin.

"He kept fighting the whole way and kept it to four points. That was a good match for him."

Kruse knocked off Washington's Chase Greiner 6-3 at 160.

"He did a great job and was fighting with one of their better kids. That was a good win," Smith said. "Emmett's a tricky kid to wrestle and uses his legs to his advantage."

The Hounds travel to Iowa City West on Saturday for tournament.

Complete results from Thursday's match are below.

220: Colley Billingsly (WASH) over Daniel Sokolik (FOMA) (Fall 0:50) 285: Cory Arnett (FOMA) over   (WASH) (For.) 106: Nate Edmonds (WASH) over   (FOMA) (For.) 113: Tateum Schelich (FOMA) over   (WASH) (For.) 120: Aaron Boone (WASH) over Noah Swigart (FOMA) (Fall 1:24) 126: Caden Greiner (WASH) over Hayden Woolever (FOMA) (MD 15-5) 132: Logan Pennock (FOMA) over Jack Kleese (WASH) (MD 10-0) 138: Jude Carter (WASH) over Calvin Johnson (FOMA) (Fall 0:49) 145: Nolan Riddle (FOMA) over Lane Schrock (WASH) (MD 9-0) 152: Aidan Pennock (FOMA) over   (WASH) (For.) 160: Emmett Kruse (FOMA) over Chase Greiner (WASH) (Dec 6-3) 170: Teague Smith (FOMA) over   (WASH) (For.) 182: Landon Rudd (FOMA) over   (WASH) (For.) 195: Isaac Thacher (FOMA) over Curtis Stender (WASH) (Fall 3:02)