Behind every successful wrestling coach is a group of talented assistant coaches.
At least that’s what Ankeny Centennial coach Jay Groth believes.
Groth paid credit to his assistants on Thursday after earning his 450th career victory when the Jaguars defeated visiting Urbandale, 42-30, in a CIML Conference dual meet.
“Like I’ve said before, my best skill as a head coach is hiring great assistants and I’ve been able to do that my whole coaching career,” said Groth, who has been coaching for 33 years. “It’s been what helps the whole team succeed, and that’s awesome.”
Groth’s current staff consists of Brad Bruhl, Max Davis, Mike Fontana, Chris Halblom, Geno Hildreth, Nick Lawrence and Tyler Willers, as well as junior high coaches Nate Smith and John Ware. There have been many other assistants over the years.
“I’ve been very fortunate,” Groth said.
Centennial, the No. 7 team in the Class 3A dual rankings, improved to 2-1 in the conference and 6-1 overall. The Jaguars defeated Urbandale for the second time in six days.
Groth’s team won the first meeting, 48-35, at the Centennial Duals on Saturday.
“This meet was actually a lot different,” Groth said. “We got a couple (technical falls) where we got pins before, so we lost some points there. But we lost by decision in a match where we got teched, so it was just a little more back and forth. It was a little more stress for us coaches.”
Centennial recorded five falls, including one by fourth-ranked Cale Vandermark at 120 pounds. He pinned No. 11 Caleb Arroyo for the second time in a week, this time in 1 minute 15 seconds.
The Jaguars also got pins from Will Sloan at 126, No. 10 Ethan Sodergren at 138, No. 3 Isaac Bruhl at 150 and No. 8 Ryan Smith at 175. No. 9 Andrew Roland at 132 and No. 3 Max Dhabolt at 157 both won by technical falls, while Jacob Hand posted a 9-8 decision over Oliver Gray at 165.
Centennial used a depleted lineup due to a rash of injuries and illnesses.
“We are ‘next man in’ right now,” Groth said. “We are banged up at four or five weights, but we’re going to the next guy and still getting the job done. Henry Lee weighed in at 166 and wrestled 190 against the No. 3 kid in the state (Cain Tigges). He fought hard and showed a lot of determination.
“We’ve got guys with pneumonia, skin infections, injuries. It’s just been crazy this first month. Christmas break is welcome right now. It’ll be nice to recover and recuperate a little bit,” he added.
The Jaguars will compete in the Don Miller Invitational on Saturday at Fort Dodge before getting some time off.
Here are the match-by-match results from Thursday’s meet:
Ankeny Centennial 42, Urbandale 30
106: Towers (U) won by forfeit; 113 Vue (U) pinned Beckwith, 1:16; 120: Vandermark (AC) pinned Arroyo, 1:15; 126: Sloan (AC) pinned K. Gray, 4:42; 132: Roland (AC) won by technical fall over Tillinghast, 15-0; 138: Sodergren (AC) pinned Hensley, 5:15; 144: Rew (U) beat Bennett, 5-2; 150: Bruhl (AC) pinned Dunn, 2:52; 157: Dhabolt (AC) won by technical fall over Brown, 18-1; 165: Hand (AC) beat O. Gray, 9-8; 175: Smith (AC) pinned Forinash, 2:44; 190: Tigges (U) won by technical fall over Lee, 18-0; 215: Miller (U) beat Rotert, 8-0; 285: Pardon (U) pinned Winkel, 1:07.
