Rams split final triangular, send four grapplers to Des Moines

By TYLER ANDERSON tanderson@iowainformation.com

Leading up to the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Class 2A-District Wrestling Tournament, the Greene County boys’ wrestling team snuck in two more duals. Then, in their quest to send as many grapplers as they could to the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s State Wrestling Championships, which started this past Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, the Rams went up against some solid competition at the Class 2A-District 1 Tournament, held last Saturday at the Atlantic High School Gym.

When the dust settled, it was a very successful week for the red and black.

In their Feb. 6 duals against Webster City and Woodward-Granger, which took place at the Woodward-Granger High School Gym, the Rams came up short in a narrow 36-35 decision against the Lynx, before handling the Hawks with a 56-21 result. The Lynx edged the Rams based on criteria, with two forfeit wins to the Rams’ one forfeit victory.

Due to the split, the Rams finished 13-8 overall in duals action.

At the district tournament in Atlantic, the Rams finished third in the team standings with a total of 134 points – anchored by four state qualifiers in senior Gavin Scheuermann, junior Brent Dennhardt, teammate Gavyn Winters and freshman Degan Miller. 

Scheuermann (157 lbs., 28-3) and Dennhardt (39-3, 165 lbs.) were crowned district champions, while Winters (24-8, 120 lbs.) and Miller (31-5, 175 lbs.) fended off wrestlebacks to earn district runner-up status.

Next up for the four Ram representatives is Iowa’s greatest grappling show, which stretches from this past Wednesday to this coming Saturday at “The Well.” A full recap and results will be reported in an upcoming edition of the Jefferson Herald.

In their back-and-forth battle against the Lynx, the Rams saw freshman Jaron Jacobs (24-13, 106 lbs.), Winters, junior Crew Conner (28-18, 138 lbs.), Scheuermann, Miller and Dennhardt collect wins from the mat. Senior Zeke Binkley (17-12, 144 lbs.) recorded the Rams’ lone forfeit win.

Against the Hawks, Greene County then recorded mat wins from Winters, senior Kolby Angell (8-6, 132 lbs.), Conner, senior Jackson Turner (32-18, 150 lbs.), Scheuermann, Dennhardt and Miller. Jaron Jacobs, Brennan Jacobs (23-14, 113 lbs.) and junior Marcus Ball (21-20, 215 lbs.) picked up forfeit victories for the red and black.

Freshman Nehemiah Hoyt (17-9, 150 lbs.) won the extra match for Greene County, pinning Aidan Corning in 1:57.

At the district tournament, the only teams to best the Rams in the final team standings were Creston – who won the Class 2A State Dual Team Championship – and host Atlantic. The Panthers collected a total of 224.5 points and the Trojans reeled in 143 points.

Following Greene County in the standings were PCM (112 points), Knoxville (104), Perry (85), Saydel (64) and Van Meter (33). 

En route to his second district title, Scheuermann had to dig deep, outlasting PCM’s Jeffrey McDaniel in a 7-2 decision before defeating Creston’s Milo Staver with a 7-4 result. Dennhardt was more dominant in his path to his first district crown, pinning Saydel’s Grady Goodwin in 18 seconds and putting down Creston’s William Bolinger in 2:57. 

All of Winters’ matches were decided via pinfall, defeating Van Meter’s Tommy Madden in the quarterfinals before taking down Knoxville’s Dan Gullion in the semifinals. Despite a loss against Creston’s Christian Ahrens, Winters rallied back with a 1:05 victory over Atlantic’s Collin Harris for his first state berth.

Miller took the proverbial scenic route to his first state berth, defeating Creston’s Gunner Martwick via pinfall and outlasting PCM’s Wyatt Wheeler in a narrow 6-5 decision. Even though Miller came up short against Knoxville’s Daniel Gorskikh, he cemented his qualifier status with a 9-6 victory over Saydel’s Trenton Vessells.

Binkley was oh so close to being the Rams’ fifth man, roaring back from a quarterfinal loss to battle his way into the wrestleback match. In a bout that would decide who would go to state, Binkley fell short against PCM’s Tucker Wheeler.

Jaron Jacobs finished fourth in his allotted bracket, as did Harmeyer, Conner and Turner. Brennan Jacobs, Angell and Ball also represented Greene County at the district tournament. 

Webster City 36, Greene County 35.

106 lbs. – Jaron Jacobs def. Angel Ramirez – Pinfall, 3:17.

113 lbs. – Brennan Jacobs lost to Linden Phetxoumphone – Pinfall, 0:50.

120 lbs. – Gavyn Winters def. Ridge Berninghaus – MD, 18-6.

126 lbs. – Jacob Harmeyer lost to Carson Doolittle – TF, 19-3.

132 lbs. – Kolby Angell lost to Dawson Bertran – Pinfall, 4:30.

138 lbs. – Crew Conner def. Gavin Wynkoop – SV-1, 8-6.

144 lbs. – Zeke Binkley (GCHS) won via forfeit..

150 lbs. – Jackson Turner lost to Tristan Mason – Dec., 7-6.

157 lbs. – Gavin Scheuermann def. Blake Berninghaus – Pinfall, 1:35.

165 lbs. – Degan Miller def. Isaac Firsching – MD, 14-2.

175 lbs. – Brent Dennhardt def. Luke Estlund – Pinfall, 1:15.

190 lbs. – Carson Bertran (WC) won via forfeit.

215 lbs. – Marcus Ball lost to Eli Estlund – Dec., 3-1.

285 lbs. – Landon Griffin (WC) won via forfeit.

Greene County 56, Woodward-Granger 21.

106 lbs. – Jaron Jacobs (GCHS) won via forfeit.

113 lbs. – Brennan Jacobs (GCHS) won via forfeit.

120 lbs. – Gavyn Winters def. Tanner Paustian – Pinfall, 4:55.

126 lbs. – Jacob Harmeyer lost to Kinnick Grimm – Dec., 7-4.

132 lbs. – Kolby Angell def. Daryn Brown – Pinfall, 0:40.

138 lbs. – Crew Conner def. Alex Saxton – SV-1, 8-6.

144 lbs. – Zeke Binkley lost to Will Atkinson – Pinfall, 3:49.

150 lbs. – Jackson Turner def. Dax Frey – Pinfall, 0:57.

157 lbs. – Gavin Scheuermann def. Oliver Potter – Pinfall, 4:31.

165 lbs. – Brent Dennhardt def. Terrin Lawrenson – Pinfall, 

175 lbs. – Degan Miller def. Blake Tuel – TF, 17-1.

190 lbs. – Oscar Potter (W-G) won via forfeit.

215 lbs. – Marcus Ball (GCHS) won via forfeit.

285 lbs. – Alexander Kasner (W-G) won via forfeit.

Extra – Nehemiah Hoyt def. Aidan Corning – Pinfall, 1:57.

Class 2A-District 1 Tournament

(Team Standings)

1. Creston 224.5

2. Atlantic 143

3, Greene County 134

4. PCM 112

5. Knoxville 104

6. Perry 85

7. Saydel 64

8. Van Meter 33

Class 2A-District 1 Tournament

(Greene County results)

Jaron Jacobs (24-13, 106 lbs.) – 4th Place.

Quarterfinal - Def. Kyler Gifford (Knoxville) – Pinfall, 1:10.

Semifinal - Lost to Taye Jordan (Atlantic) – Pinfall, 3:44.

Cons. Semi - Bye.

Third Place Match - Lost to Kylen Parsons (Creston) – Pinfall, 4:35.

Brennan Jacobs (23-14, 113 lbs.)

First Round - Bye.

Quarterfinal - Lost to Tre DeRaad (Knoxville) – Pinfall, 4:59.

Cons. First Round - Bye.

Cons. Semi - Lost to Lane Travis (Creston) – Pinfall, 0:38.

Gavyn Winters (24-8, 120 lbs.) – State Qualifier.

Quarterfinal - Def. Tommy Madden (Van Meter) – Pinfall, 0:39.

Semifinal - Def. Dane Gullion (Knoxville) – Pinfall, 3:43.

Championship - Lost to Christian Ahrens (Creston) – Pinfall, 1:25.

Second Place Match - Def. Collin Harris (Atlantic) – Pinfall, 1:05.

Jacob Harmeyer (18-13, 126 lbs.) – 4th Place.

Quarterfinal - Def. Joe Finnegan (Knoxville) – Pinfall, 3:35.

Semifinal - Lost to Aiden Smith (Atlantic) – Pinfall, 0:42.

Cons. Semi - Def. Charlie Sitzmann (PCM) – Pinfall, 2:00.

Third Place Match - Lost to Townes Wilson (Perry) – TF, 15-0.

Kolby Angell (8-6, 132 lbs.)

Quarterfinal - Lost to Jayden Harter (Atlantic) – Pinfall, 3:57.

Cons. First Round - Bye.

Cons. Semi - Lost to Ben Kusar (Perry) – Pinfall, 3:33.

Crew Conner (28-18, 138 lbs.) – 4th Place.

Quarterfinal - Def. Chase Rider (Knoxville) – Pinfall, 2:23.

Semifinal - Lost to Remington Fry (PCM) – Dec., 8-3.

Cons. Semi - Def. Gavin Kercheval (Perry) – Pinfall, 1:51.

Third Place Match - Lost to Kalvin Hayes (Atlantic) – Pinfall, 5:55.

Zeke Binkley (17-12, 144 lbs.) – 3rd Place.

Quarterfinal - Lost to Adam Boeck (Van Meter) – Pinfall, 4:52.

Cons. First Round - Bye.

Cons. Semi - Def. Dreven Smith (Atlantic) – Pinfall, 0:42.

Third Place Match - Def. Tristyn Steil (Perry) – Pinfall, 1:07.

Second Place Match - Lost to Tucker Wheeler (PCM) – Pinfall, 0:46.

Jackson Turner (32-18, 150 lbs.) – 4th Place.

Quarterfinal - Def. Carter Hadley (Atlantic) – Pinfall, 1:44.

Semifinal - Lost to Tristan Sinnard (Knoxville) – Dec., 9-7.

Cons. Semi - Def. Jimmy Bridges (Saydel) – Pinfall, 2:31.

Third Place Match - Lost to Jackson Pettegrew (Creston) – Dec., 6-2.

Gavin Scheuermann (28-3, 157 lbs.) – District Champion.

Quarterfinal - Bye.

Semifinal - Def. Jeffrey McDanel (PCM) – Dec., 7-2.

Championship - Def. Milo Staver (Creston) – Dec., 7-4.

Brent Dennhardt (39-3, 165 lbs.) – District Champion.

Quarterfinal - Bye.

Semifinal - Def. Grady Godwin (Saydel) – Pinfall,  0:18.

Championship - Def. William Bolinger (Creston) – Pinfall, 2:57.

Degan Miller (31-15, 175 lbs.) – State Qualifier.

Quarterfinal - Def. Gunner Martwick (Creston) – Pinfall, 1:24.

Semifinal - Def. Wyatt Wheeler (PCM) – Dec., 6-5.

Championship - Lost to Daniel Gorskikh (Knoxville) – Pinfall, 0:58.

Second Place Match - Def. Trenton Vessells (Saydel) – Dec., 9-6.

Marcus Ball (21-20, 215 lbs.)

Quarterfinal - Lost to Jayden Montalvo (Knoxville) – Pinfall, 0:24.

Cons. First Round - Bye.

Cons. Semi - Lost to Eli Halfpap (Van Meter) – Pinfall, 1:25.