State Wrestling: Dennhardt places eighth, helps Greene County to top 10 finish

By BRANDON HURLEY
Managing Editor

Records fell at an alarming pace for the Greene County wrestling team.

Sophomore Brent Dennhardt’s eighth-place finish at the 2023 state wrestling tournament helped cement one of the program’s most impressive outings in history.
The Rams placed three on the podium for the first time ever, as Dennhardt joined state champions Kale Petersen and McKinley Robbins for the grand march Saturday night. The trio of podium finishes allowed Greene County to compile 73 team points, finishing in the top 10 at No. 8.

Ballard was merely a point ahead of the Rams in seventh with 74 points. Osage took home the team title with 175.5 points while Notre Dame, Burlington was runner-up at 106.5 points. Mount Vernon (99), West Delaware (97.5) and Sergeant Bluff-Luton (82.5) rounded out the top five while Webster City was sixth (80).

Dennhardt enjoyed a breakout season, finishing the year with a 40-8 record and clinching his first trip to the state tournament. The big stage didn’t fluster 145-pounder as he pinned his first round opponent, Caden Vellinga of West Marshall in the third period. Dennhardt then followed up a tense second round loss with three consolation bracket victories. He was methodical and efficient, recording a 13-3 major decision of Charles City’s Nathan Lopez in the consolation third round then outlasted Albia’s Justin Keller, 7-1 in the fourth round. Dennhardt fought valiantly in the consolation quarterfinals against Mt. Vernon’s Jackson Jaspers, but came up a hair short, 3-1, knocking him to the seventh place match. Union’s Caleb Olson (28-4) captured seventh place with a second period pin of Dennhardt. The 145-pound sophomore was impressive in his first real varsity action, tallying a conference title while picking up four state tournament wins. He’ll likely be one of the Rams workhorses next winer.

Greene County’s Gavin Scheuermann also made waves in his third state tournament appearance, reaching the consolation fourth round in the 160 pound bracket. The junior earned multiple state tournament victories for the first time in his career, snatching a first round win over Cole Storm via a second period pin.

Scheuermann was mere moments from advancing to the quarterfinals, clinging to an 8-2 third period lead over Independence’s Carter Straw before eventually falling in overtime, 11-9. Scheuermann bounced back in the consolation bracket, capturing a decisive 10-2 major decision over Williamsburg’s Cael Moore. Scheuermann secured his third victory with another major decision, defeating Centerville’s Leland Henderson, 13-4. Scheuermann’s consolation run was cut a hair short as Spirit Lake Park’s Jack Wajda pinned the junior in the second period of their fourth round match.

Scheuermann finished the year at 22-5 and will set his sights on a fourth straight state tournament appearance next winter.