There was a little coulda-woulda-shoulda for the No. 6 Lisbon boys wrestling team Saturday, Jan. 10, when it lost the team title at the Tripoli Invitational by a half-point to No. 3 Woodbury Central. (Those are dual team rankings in Class 1A.)
“Three weeks ago, we beat them by a point,” Lisbon coach Aaron Helmrich said. “And we had some guys out, Saturday.
“The guys we had wrestled hard. We are right with them. We might be getting undervalued a little bit. I like where we’re heading.”
The Lions had two first-place finishers – Jack Gogel (113) and Cade Happel (126) – and had five finish runner-up – Kyler Happel (106), Cael Stricker (120), Carter Gadberry (132), Caleb Brown (175) and Ryder Meeks (190).
“Jack Gogel picked up his 100th win, and had a technical fall that could’ve been a pin … which would’ve tied us for the title,” Helmrich said. “But it is what it is.”
The coach praised Meeks, a recent addition to the lineup.
“We either win, or learn from every match,” Helmrich said. “That’s two things we require.”
On Thursday, Jan. 8, the Lions won three duals at Midland. They beat East Buchanan 60-12, topped Maquoketa Valley 65-12, and topped Midland 58-23.
“We’re in a spot where we have a full team, and a very good team,” Helmrich said. “Those are dominating wins, and it what we expect.”
Kyler Happel (106) led the way with three wins on the mat.
Lisbon 60, East Buchanan 12
106 – Kyler Happel (L) pinned James Manson 2:00. 113 – Jack Gogel (L) won by forfeit. 120 – Cael Stricker (L) won by forfeit. 126 – Cade Happel (L) won by forfeit. 132 – Carter Gadberry (L) won by forfeit. 138 – Gavin Hove (L) pinned Chase Lindsey 1:13. 144 – Jackson Knapp (L) won by forfeit. 150 – Elliott Moehlman (L) won by forfeit. 157 – Tayton Elledge (EB) dec. Drew Bixler 6-0. 165 – Trenton Elledge (EB) dec. Ian Kelsey 4-1. 175 – Ryder Meeks (L) won by forfeit. 190 – Caleb Brown pinned Walker Funk 3:07. 215 – Tucker Berns (EB) won by forfeit. 285 – Double forfeit.
Lisbon 65, Maquoketa Valley 12
106 – Kyler Happel (L) pinned Nolan Lahey 1:10. 113 – Jack Gogel (L) won by forfeit. 120 – Cael Stricker (L) won by forfeit. 126 – Cade Happel (L) pinned Maverick Domeyer :55. 132 – Carter Gadberry (L) won by forfeit. 138 – Gavin Hove (L) won by forfeit. 144 – Jackson Knapp (L) pinned Brayden Schuster 2:28. 150 – Elliott Moehlman (L) tech. fall Jefferson LeGassick 16-1 2:57. 157 – Kyle Engelken (MV) pinned Drew Bixler 2:47. 165 – Ian Kelsey (L) pinned Dalton Africa :47. 175 – Ryder Meeks (L) pinned Jace Leytem :36. 190 – Caleb Brown (L) pinned Swayer Kemp 2:34. 215 – Double forfeit. 285 – Gabe Halweg (MV) won by forfeit.
Lisbon 58, Midland 23
106 – Kyler Happel (L) pinned Kinnick Moore 1:10. 113 – Jack Gogel (L) won by forfeit. 120 – Cael Stricker 9L) tech. fall Tristan Minor 20-4 3:44. 126 – Cade Happel (L) won by forfeit. 132 – Carter Gadberry (L) pinned Wyatt Tracy :59. 138 – Gavin Hove (L) pinned Kolton Duffy 4:00. 144 – Jackson Knapp (L) won by forfeit. 150 – Elliott Moehlman (L) tech. fall tucker Barlow 18-1 2:00. 157 – Wyatt Christiansen (M) pinned Drew Bixler 1:38. 165 – Ian Kelsey (L) pinned Jesse King :57. 175 – Ryder Meeks (L) pinned Wyatt Schoenherr 1:08. 190 – Dane Ballou (M) tech. fall Caleb Brown 16-1 1:20. 215 – Wyatt King (M) won by forfeit. 285 – Raiden Cruise (M) won by forfeit.
TRIPOLI INVITATIONAL
Team scores – 1. Woodbury Central 205.5; 2. Lisbon 205; 3. Denver 152.5; 4. South Winneshiek 151.5; 5. Nashua-Plainfield 138; 6. Belle Plaine 111; 7. Sumner-Fredericksburg 100; 8. Emmetsburg 70; 9. Waterloo Columbus 55; 10. Wapsie Valley 45.5; 11. Tripoli 6.5.
LISBON
106 – Kyler Happel, 1-1, second. 113 – Jack Gogel, 3-0, first. 120 – Cael Stricker, 1-1, second. 126 – Cade Happel, 3-0, first. 132 – Carter Gadberry, 2-1, second. 138 – Gavin Hove, 2-2, fifth. 144 – Jackson Knapp, 3-1, third. 150 – Elliott Moehlman, 1-2. 157 – Drew Bixler, 3-2, fourth. 165 – Ian Kelsey, 2-2, fourth. 175 – Cale Brown, 2-1, second. 190 – Ryder Meeks, 1-1, second.