Ankeny Centennial sophomore Max Dhabolt showed on Saturday why he’s a serious contender to become the school’s first-ever state wrestling champion.
The third-ranked Dhabolt defeated the two wrestlers ranked above him in Class 3A to win the 157-pound title in the Ed Winger Invitational at Urbandale. He posted a 4-2 decision over No. 2 Nolan Fellers of Bondurant-Farrar in the semifinals, then followed with a 4-1 victory over No. 1 Bas Diaz of Waverly-Shell Rock.
“The key to beating Bas was to stay on the attack the whole time and not play into his games,” said Dhabolt, who scored the only takedown late in the match. “I knew I had to play it smart against him and not get caught out of position, or it would have resulted in a loss. It feels great to get that win, and it puts me at the No. 1 (spot).”
It was the second straight crown for Dhabolt, who won the 144-pound title a year ago. He was named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler after raising his record to 25-0.
“Max wrestled really well and beat some really good kids,” said Centennial coach Jay Groth. “Those are both tough kids, but he wrestled smart and it was great to see him out there doing what he loves to do. I believe Max can win a state title, and most importantly, he believes it. He’s just doing everything right in practice, and he’s healthy now. We’re just looking for bigger and better things.”
This was the second consecutive season that a Jaguar won the outstanding wrestler award. Last year, Lucas Bruhl earned the honor after beating Diaz, 3-1, in the 150-pound final.
Dhabolt advanced to the semifinals after recording a pin and a technical fall in his first two matches. He then handed Fellers (28-3) just his third loss of the season.
In the finals, Dhabolt won another showdown against Diaz (30-2). He has yet to give up a takedown this season.
“Diaz is very fundamental and very strong,” Groth said. “He holds good position and capitalizes on mistakes. Max just really stayed in good position, and when he did get in a little bit of a hairy spot a couple of times, he got himself out and reacted really well. His scrambling ability is phenomenal.”
Centennial placed 11th among 23 teams with 80.5 points. The Jaguars had four top-six finishers.
Carlisle won the tournament with 148 points. Waverly-Shell Rock was second with 134, followed by Waukee Northwest with 132, Bettendorf with 130 and Johnston with 129.
Centennial’s Cale Vandermark reached the finals along with Dhabolt. The second-ranked junior pinned his first two opponents at 120 before dropping a 4-1 decision in the title match to No. 1 Jake Knight of Bettendorf, settling for runner-up honors for the second straight year.
“Cale got taken down and got out once, but we weren’t able to get out again,” Groth said. “We’re going to keep working on that.”
Vandermark is now 32-2 on the season. His other loss also came to Knight (32-1) by the same score in the finals of the Jack Mendenhall Invitational on Jan. 11 at Ames.
“The match pretty much went the same way as I gave up a takedown in the second period,” said Vandermark. “I improved some positions from last time, though, and I’m looking past my loss and will make sure I get that win in the state finals.”
Centennial got a fifth-place finish from No. 8 Ethan Sodergren at 138. Andrew Roland finished sixth at 132.
Sodergren reached the semifinals before falling to No. 7 Ryan Rider of Carlisle, 22-21, in a back-and-forth match. After dropping another close 9-8 match to Jaxon Brewer of Council Bluffs Lewis Central in a consolation semifinal, Sodergren (26-6) pinned McCoy McIlravy of Waverly-Shell Rock in 3 minutes 14 seconds in the fifth-place match.
“Ethan had (Rider) on his back several times,” Groth said. “He lost in the consolation semifinals for the same reason. He had (Brewer) on his back, but the kid got off his back and scored some points. We just have to finish the job when we have a chance.”
Roland (19-13) went 2-3 on the day, recording a fall in the opening round and a major decision in a consolation quarterfinal. He was pinned by No. 5 Hayden Hutt of Waukee Northwest in 2:40 in the fifth-place match.
The Jaguars will host a CIML Conference dual meet against No. 1 Southeast Polk on Thursday. No. 4 Isaac Bruhl is expected to be back in Centennial’s lineup at 150.
“He’s off concussion protocol, and he’s feeling good,” Groth said.
There won’t be much riding on the outcome. The regional dual team pairings will be announced earlier in the week.
“There might be some matches that will affect the seedings at state, but that’s about it,” Groth said.