Tourney success continues for MHS

     Tournament success has been a recurring theme for the Monticello High School wrestling team this season, and the Starmont Invitational Dec. 15 kept that trend alive for the Panthers.

     Monticello placed fourth in the 10-team tournament, largely from having four finalists and three champions.

     The champions were Mark Sunlin at 106 pounds, Kain Luensman at 132, and Chase Luensman at 145. It was the second title at that tournament for both Kain and Chase.

     Lake Stahlberg finished second at 220 pounds. Bo Kramer was fourth at 138, and Owen Ray placed fifth at 120.

     “It was a good tournament for us,” Monticello coach Ryan Luensman said. “We moved some guys around to get tougher matches, and everything went well.

     “Mark, Kain and Chase wrestled very strong throughout the day. Kain had a tough opponent from MFL who was ranked last year, and Chase beat a strong kid from Waukon. Mark looked very strong, as he didn’t wrestle out of the first period the entire tournament.

     “Lake had a very tough opponent from MFL in the finals, and he came up short right at the very end. Bo Kramer had a very solid day, placing fourth in a tough bracket. It is exciting to see Bo progress every week.”

     The Panthers also wrestled in a double dual meet at West Liberty Dec. 13, edging North Cedar 40-39 and losing to West Liberty 55-17.

     Stahlberg wrestled twice and won both matches by decision, the second in a sudden victory overtime. Getting single wins by pin were Owen Ray against North Cedar, and Kain Luensman and Chase Luensman against West Liberty. Dylan Bowser won a decision victory in the West Liberty match.

     “Kain and Chase took care of business, and Owen Ray continues to stay productive at the varsity level as a freshman,” coach Luensman said. “Rylan Cooper was in two great matches, and Ty Jesenovec had a nice win as well.”

Junior varsity

     Monticello also competed in the Wilton junior varsity tournament Dec. 15, and had three champions: Dylan Bowser, Rylan Cooper and Spencer Avery.

     “Everyone is starting to get big wins, and we are slowly starting to see things we are trying to implement,” coach Luensman said.

     The Panthers have one meet left before the holiday break, a quadrangular meet Dec. 20, 5:30 p.m. at Anamosa that also includes Maquoketa Valley and Center Point-Urbana.

Dec. 13

(at West Liberty)

Monticello 40,

North Cedar 39

(Monticello wrestlers listed first)

     113 – Dylan Bowser lost to Kole Murray, 10-8. 120 – Owen Ray pinned Ashlynn Miller, 2:52. 126 – Rylan Cooper was pinned by Chase Miller, 2:50. 132 – Kain Luensman won by forfeit. 138 – Bo Kramer was pinned by Brody Hawtrey, 3:09. 145 – Chase Luensman won by forfeit. 152 – Miles Hatchel won by forfeit. 160 – Jericho Strouf won by forfeit. 170 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 182 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 195 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 220 – Lake Stahlberg dec. Tyler Thurston, 6-5. 285 – Wade Picray was pinned by Chase Gallagher, 0:34. 106 – Mark Sunlin won by forfeit.

West Liberty 55,

Monticello 17

     120 – Owen Ray lost by major dec. to Sam Gingerich, 8-0. 126 – Rylan Cooper was pinned by Joshua Mateo, 2:56. 132 – Kain Luensman pinned Brian Collins 1:41. 138 – Bo Kramer was pinned by Talen Dengler, 1:55. 145 – Chase Luensman pinned Isreal Gomez, 2:35. 152 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 160 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 170 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 182 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 195 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 220 – Lake Stahlberg won by sudden victory over Kobe Simon, 3-1. 285 – Monticello lost by forfeit. 106 – Mark Sunlin lost to Alex Beaver, 10-5. 113 – Dylan Bowser dec. Joe Barten, 10-4.

Exhibition matches

     Chaz McClendon was pinned by Ethan Martinez, 0:33. Ty Jesenovec pinned Gabe Gardenier, 1:37. Jericho Strouf was pinned by Austin Elizalde, 1:49.

Dec. 15

Starmont Inv.

(at Arlington)

TEAM SCORES

     1, MFL MarMac 256.5; 2, Oelwein 192; 3, East Buchanan 180; 4, Monticello 119; 5(tie), Jesup 82 and Waukon 82; 7, Starmont 76; 8, Central City 53.5; 9, Dubuque Wahlert 52; 10(tie), BGM 50 and Durant 50.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

     106 – Mark Sunlin (champion) received two byes; pinned Owen Malone, W, 1:55; pinned Kashton Mathis, MFL, 0:38.

     120 – Owen Ray (fifth place) received two byes; was pinned by Carsen Jeanes, O, 2:30; was pinned by Brady Wilson, J, 2:56; pinned Kari German, S, 1:34.

     132 – Kain Luensman (champion) pinned Owen Frieden, W, 1:50; won by tech. Fall over Jimmy McDermott, DW, 18-1, 2:33; pinned Andrew Roete, O, 1:23; won by major dec. over Ethan Stubbs, MFL, 9-0.

     138 – Bo Kramer (fourth) received a bye; lost by major dec. to Tyler Block W, 9-0; dec. Gabe Dominguez, DW, 9-2; dec. Blake Smith, O, 7-3; was pinned by Tyler Block, W, 5:07.

     145 – Chase Luensman (champion) received a bye; pinned Alexander Stole, BGM, 1:49; won by tech. Fall over Drake Logan, 19-2, 2:12; won by major dec. over Miles Hansmeier, W, 13-3.

     220 – Lake Stahlberg (runner-up) received a bye; pinned Henry Tomecek, DW, 1:23; pinned L.J. Henkle, 1:10; lost to Garrett Keehner, 6-4.