PREVIEW: State-experienced trio to lead Wildcats

Published by admin on Fri, 12/02/2016 - 8:19am

The Maquoketa Valley wrestling team, first row from left: Canyon Richardson, Aden Atwell, Mitch Smith, Tanner Parmely, Chad Neuzil and Carter Stahlberg. Second row: Chance Downs, Trent Koopmann, Isaac Kramer, Zach Cornell, Alec McDowell, Eric Heims, Robert Hildebrand, Derek Becker and Dylan Happel. Third row: head coach Tim Andrews, assistant coach Brian Wegmann, Evan Hoefer, Justin Krapfl, Cole Kruse, Norman Wilson, Michael Feldmann, Mason Kruse, Carson Wright, Matthew Hucker and assistant coach Mike Stahlberg. Not pictured are Derek Mensen and assistant coaches Jeff Chesnut and Adam Steger. (Photo by Pete Temple)

WRESTLING

     Three wrestlers with state tournament experience will lead a large group of Maquoketa Valley Wildcats into the 2016-17 season.

     Back are senior Alec McDowell, who went 51-3 and finished third in the state last year; and senior Eric Heims, who was a state qualifier a year ago. McDowell will likely wrestle at 182 pounds; Heims at 220.

     The team has 10 additional letter-winners, led by junior Tanner Parmely, who made State as a freshman. The others are senior Zach Cornell, juniors Mitch Smith, Cole Kruse, Carson Wright, Justin Krapfl and Robert Hildebrand; and sophomores Norman Wilson, Canyon Richardson and Dylan Happel.

     “A strength of this year’s team is having three wrestlers returning who have state wrestling experience,” eighth-year coach Tim Andrews said. “Having them return and leading the way with 11 incoming freshmen should be a great mix and a lot of fun.”

     As a team, the Wildcats were 11-4 in the Tri-Rivers Conference and 25-9 overall last year. Alburnett and Lisbon are again likely co-favorites in the conference, while East Buchanan and North-Linn also have strong lineups returning, Andrews said.

     “I would like to think we can get into the mix and contend for the top spot,” Andrews said.

     Among the freshmen, Chance Downs was third at the AAU state tournament and third at USA state tourney last year, while Michael Feldmann was a state AAU qualifier.

     Andrews is assisted by Brian Wegmann, Mike Stahlberg, Jeff Chesnut and Adam Steger.

 

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