As anticipated, the Tri-Rivers Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 1, at North Linn High School ended up becoming a lot of matches where Lisbon had to square off against Alburnett.
The No. 2 Pirates came out on top overall, winning the team title with 286 points and crowning six champions, but Lisbon was not far behind, finishing second with 227.5 points with five champions.
North Linn was a distant third with 111.5 team points and no champs.
The Pirates finished either first or second at 13 of the 14 weight classes.
“I thought our guys did pretty good against them,” Lisbon Coach Aaron Helmrich said. “We had six matches against them in the finals, and we won five of them.”
Either a Lion or a Pirate won every weight class but three. Maquoketa Valley won 190 and 215 pounds, and Starmont won 285.
Lisbon champions included Jack Gogel (106), Cael Stricker (113), Wesley Sadler (120), Carter Gadberry (132), and Tiernan Boots (150).
Most weights featured a round robin format, rather than a tournament format, but all five Lisbon champs beat the Alburnett wrestler at their weight.
No. 8 Gogel pinned Jaxson Port in 3:33.
Stricker beat No. 3 Atlee Dewitt by decision, 4-2.
No. 10 Sadler beat No. 9 Owen Henriksen, 7-1.
Gadberry beat JJ Callahan, 6-4.
No. 3 Boots topped No. 7 Reece Klostermann, 12-5
“I think you can talk about momentum,” Helmrich said. “Once Jack got the pin, that built a little momentum.”
Helmrich also was happy that junior Elliott Mohlman, thrust into the starting spot at 138 pounds, ended up placing third.
Cade Happel (126) was runner-up, losing to No. 2 Rowdy Neighbor. Luke Robinson (144) and Jacob Walerius (215) joined Mohlman as third-place finishers.
On Thursday, Jan. 30, Lisbon beat West Branch in a non-conference dual, 51-18, in the Lions’ Den.
“That’s how you win big duals,” Helmrich said. “Our guys that got beat, other than one, didn’t give up any bonus points. We wrestled their tough guys hard, then our guys did what they are supposed to do.”
No. 13 Lisbon was scheduled to take on No. 24 Westwood, then if they win, No. 4 Jesup on Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Jesup. The winner heads to state duals Feb. 8 at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Jesup won last season, 48-24.
“We were up there last year,” Helmrich said. “Hopefully we can turn that around.”
Tri-Rivers Tournament
Team scores – 1. Alburnett 286; 2. Lisbon 227.5; 3. North Linn 111.5; 4. Midlland 93.5; 5. Maquoketa Valley 86; 6. Starmont 78; 7. East Buchanan 70.5; 8. Springville 46; 9. North Cedar 42.
LISBON
106 – Jack Gogel, 3-0, first. 113 – Cael Stricker, 2-0, first. 120 – Wesley Sadler, 5-0, first. 126 – Cade Happel, 3-1, second. 132 – Carter Gadberry, 5-0, first. 138 – Elliott Mohlman, 2-2, third. 144 – Luke Robinson, 3-1, third. 150 – Tiernan Boots, 4-0, first. 157 – Ian Kelsey, 1-2, fifth. 175 – Caleb Brown, 2-2, fourth. 190 – Gavin Carmer, 0-3, sixth. 215 – Jacob Walerius, 3-1, third. 285 – Hudson Herboldsheimer, 2-2, fifth.
Lisbon 51, West Branch 18
159 – Tiernan Boots (L) pinned Keaton Gates 1:05. 157 – Maddux Rushton (WB) dec. Ian Kelsey 4-2. 165 – Cooper Gates (WB) dec. Gage Holub 7-0. 175 – Caleb Brown (L) won by forfeit. 190 – Tate Frantz (WB) maj. dec. Gavin Carmer 11-2. 215 – Jacob Walerius (L) pinned Jerricho Hobbs 1:12. 285 – Hudson Herboldsheimer (L) won by forfeit. 106 – Jack Gogel (L) pinned Elliot Montgomery 1:43. 113 – Cael Stricker (L) dec. Teague Thomas 5-2. 120 – Wesley Sadler (L) won by forfeit. 126 – Cade Happel (L) pinned Gabe Depoorter 2:47. 132 – Logan Christoffel (WB) dec. Carter Gadberry 4-0. 138 – Jackson Knapp (L) pinned Clay Gates :59. 144 – Cash Hatfield (WB) tech. fall Luke Robinson 20-4 5:07.