• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

  • Home
  • About
    • Support Us
  • News
    • Podcast
  • Hawks
    • Boys’ Track
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Track
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Soccer
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Soccer
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Tennis
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Tennis
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Golf
      • Roster
      • Schedule
  • Jaguars
    • Boys’ Track
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Track
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Soccer
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Soccer
      • Schedule
    • Boys’ Tennis
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Tennis
      • Schedule
    • Girls’ Golf
      • Roster
      • Schedule

‘Our kids didn’t quit’: Hawk wrestlers run into tough foes at Donnybrook event

December 5, 2022 by Dan Holm

Ankeny’s Preston Wojcik battles Johnston’s Marko Pelayo-Pintor in the 120-pound match during Thursday’s dual meet at Johnston. Wojcik posted an 8-3 decision for the Hawks. He then placed 31st in the Dan Gable Donnybrook on Friday and Saturday at Coralville. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Coach Jack Wignall never wants his Ankeny wrestling team to shy away from strong competition.

That’s why the Dan Gable Donnybrook on Friday and Saturday at the Xtream Arena in Coralville was such a positive experience for the Hawks.

“This was arguably the toughest high school tournament in the country this weekend,” said Wignall. “There were some teams that typically go to the Beast of the East that were there, so we saw a lot of the best kids in the country. It was great from a competition standpoint.”

Only four of Ankeny’s 13 wrestlers placed among the top 15 finishers at their respective weights. Wignall said the Hawks ran into some tough opponents on the back side of the brackets as well.

“Typically, when we go to a tournament this big, we know some of our newer kids are going to have a rough first day,” he said. “But on the second day, they will typically see kids that they can compete with. But that didn’t necessarily happen–the way they had seeded this tournament. We had kids who saw two- or three-time state placewinners on the back side. That was frustrating, but our kids didn’t quit.”

Ben Hansen led Ankeny with a fifth-place finish at 138 pounds. He reached the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual runner-up, who used a fireman’s carry to record a fall in 23 seconds.

“That kid was just a hammer,” Wignall said of Hansen’s opponent. “But I thought Ben wrestled incredible.”

Will Hinrichs placed ninth at 220 for the Hawks. He also reached the quarterfinals.

“Those two classes were very, very deep,” Wignall said. “Every weight was just so good. I bet the first 15 finishers in each class were a state qualifier at a minimum, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Ankeny’s Truman Folkers placed 13th at 113. Ben Walsh took 15th at 106.

Ankeny coach Jack Wignall looks on as a trainer talks with JJ Maihan during Thursday’s dual meet at Johnston. Maihan suffered a tooth injury but was able to finish his match at 126 pounds. However, he sat out the Dan Gable Donnybrook on Friday and Saturday. (Photo by Dan Holm)

The Hawks competed without five of their varsity regulars. JJ Maihan sat out after suffering a tooth injury during Thursday’s dual meet at Johnston, while Xander Kenworthy, Cade Bennethum and Joe Kingston were withheld for precautionary reasons.

“We’re trying to keep those three guys as healthy as we can through the early part of the year,” Wignall said.

Jace Anderson, who placed fifth at last year’s Donnybrook, was also out of the lineup. He will return to the mat on Saturday when Ankeny competes in the Baltzley Invitational at Johnston.

Prior to that tournament, the Hawks will travel to Huxley on Thursday for a double dual meet against Ballard and Webster City.

Filed Under: Boys' Wrestling, Hawks Tagged With: Featured, Jack Wignall

Primary Sidebar

Support Ankeny Fanatic

Recent Posts

  • From Wenatchee to Flint: Ankeny native describes his TBL journey in pro hoops
  • Ankeny Fanatic Rodcast: Episode 11
  • Football group assignments for Class 5A announced by IHSAA
  • ‘CCU has just what I was looking for’: White to join Phipps at Division II school
  • Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kambria Leazer, Centennial girls’ track

Find Us on Facebook

Ankeny Fanatic

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017

Categories

  • Hawks
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
        • Roster
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Boys’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Swimming
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Bowling
      • Boys’ Wrestling
  • Jaguars
    • Fall
      • Boys’ Cross Country
      • Boys’ Golf
      • Football
      • Girls’ Cross Country
      • Girls’ Swimming
      • Volleyball
    • Spring
      • Boys’ Soccer
      • Boys’ Tennis
      • Boys’ Track
      • Girls’ Golf
      • Girls’ Soccer
      • Girls’ Tennis
      • Girls’ Track
    • Summer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
    • Winter
      • Boys’ Basketball
      • Girls’ Basketball
      • Wrestling
  • Top Sports Stories
    • Football
    • Volleyball
  • Baseball
  • Softball

© 2023 Ankeny Fanatic. All rights reserved.