The seniors on the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team were highly motivated for Thursday’s dual meet against visiting Ankeny.
The eighth-ranked Jaguars won nine of the 14 matches and recorded five falls en route to a 42-17 victory–their first over Ankeny since the 2019-20 season.
“There was definitely some talk amongst the seniors who were saying, ‘Hey, we’ve been here for four years and we’ve never beaten Ankeny in the rivalry meet. We’re not leaving here without a victory against them,'” said Centennial coach Jay Groth. “They were really motivated and inspired to do well.”
The win allowed Centennial to remain unbeaten. The Jaguars improved to 6-0 in the CIML Conference and 17-0 overall, while Ankeny’s records fell to 1-4 and 5-7.
“We figured it probably would be (a tough meet), but we tried to be optimistic,” said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. “If this happens and that happens, then maybe this will happen. But it just didn’t. We lost some matches that we shouldn’t have. Centennial got pins, and we gave up pins. We didn’t fight like they do in some of those positions, and it’s hard to win dual meets like that.”
Centennial got a pin from Cody Vandermark at 120 pounds to open the meet. The Jaguars later got falls from Lucas Bruhl at 150, Ari Ehlts at 165, Ryan Smith at 175 and Jack Cahill at 190.
“When you smell blood in the water, you go after it,” Groth said of the flurry of pins. “If you get them on their back, don’t let them off.”
Centennial also got a big win from fifth-ranked Max Dhabolt at 144. The freshman posted a 13-6 decision over No. 4 Ben Hansen in overtime to raise his record to 22-1.
“That was a hell of a match,” Groth said. “Ben is a great kid and always carries himself well. He’s a great wrestler, and I’m sure they’ll have some more matches against each other.”
Dhabolt twice took Hansen to his back during the overtime periods.
“Max is just tenacious out there,” Groth said. “You think he’s in a bad position, and the next thing you know he’s got an ankle or an armbar and he’s scoring a takedown.”
Centennial’s Isaac Bruhl posted a 16-4 major decision at 157. Tyler Brennan at 138 and Mitchell Grider at 215 each won by a decision for the Jaguars.
“We wrestled well,” Groth said. “The guys responded well to a high-pressure meet. I’m pleased with what they did.”
The Jaguars built a 43-6 lead before Ankeny won the last three matches. Ben Walsh had a fall for the Hawks at 106.
“Ben did his job tonight, but that was our only pin,” Wignall said. “Centennial’s kids are really good at not giving up pins or being taken to their back.”
Ankeny’s Isaac Wignall closed out the meet with a 6-5 decision over Cale Vandermark at 113.
“Isaac wrestled really well,” Wignall said. “He wrestled hard, and that’s what we want.”
Both squads were penalized one team point after the final match.
“We didn’t finish that dual the way we wanted to,” Groth said. “But I’ll take the blame for that.”
The Hawks also got wins from Truman Folkers at 126, Perez Perez at 132 and Jack Dorfler at 285.
“Jack is coming along,” Wignall said. “He’s getting better every day.”
Here are the match-by-match results:
Ankeny Centennial 42, Ankeny 17
120: Co. Vandermark (AC) pinned Winkie, 1:33; 126: T. Folkers (A) beat Sodergren, 8-4; 132: Perez (A) beat Roland, 6-5; 138: Brennan (AC) beat Claeys, 8-3; 144: M. Dhabolt (AC) beat Hansen, 13-6 (OT); 150: L. Bruhl (AC) pinned Johnson, 1:26; 157: I. Bruhl (AC) beat Peiffer, 16-4; 165: Ehlts (AC) pinned Wernau, 1:46; 175: Smith (AC) pinned Schlee, 1:37; 190: Cahill (AC) pinned Shepard, 2:40; 215: Grider (AC) beat Haase, 9-5; 285: Dorfler (A) beat Adams, 6-2; 106: Walsh (A) pinned Larsen, 1:09; 113: Wignall (A) beat Ca. Vandermark, 6-5.
