The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team celebrated its Senior Night on Thursday before dropping a 58-14 decision to visiting Southeast Polk.
It was the final home meet for the 14th-ranked Jaguars, who finished 5-3 in the CIML Conference and fell to 10-10 overall.
“We have almost 20 seniors, and it’s nice just to have those guys around,” said Centennial coach Jay Groth. “It’s hard when you don’t make that lineup, but you’re still part of the Jaguar wrestling family and it was awesome to recognize those kids. They’re all good kids.”
The No. 1 Rams won 11 of the 14 matches. They recorded four pins and three technical falls.
“Southeast Polk is obviously a very good team, and we went out and fought,” Groth said. “Every kid that I put out there–a couple of freshmen and a couple of guys who aren’t regularly on the varsity–went out and fought. They weren’t scared, so that was good.”
Centennial’s Danny Dhabolt opened the meet with a fall at 190 pounds. He pinned Joel Thompson in 1 minute 53 seconds.
The Jaguars also got wins from second-ranked Cale Vandermark at 120 and No. 4 Isaac Bruhl at 150. Vandermark posted a 10-6 decision over No. 5 Mat Prine, and Bruhl won by a 22-5 technical fall over Samer Arafa.
At 157, Centennial’s No. 1 Max Dhabolt suffered his first loss of the season. He lost by an injury default to No. 10 Dokken Biladeau after Dhabolt got the worst of a head-to-head collision.
“We’re hoping that Max will be ok,” Groth said.
Centennial will travel to Waukee Northwest on Tuesday for a Class 3A regional dual. The Jaguars will meet No. 12 Council Bluffs Lewis Central in the opening round, with the winner to face No. 6 Waukee Northwest for a berth to state.
Centennial dropped a 38-32 decision to Lewis Central in the Osage Duals on Jan. 18. The Jaguars defeated Waukee Northwest, 40-39, in the season opener on Dec. 5.
“It’s ironic that we lost to Lewis Central but we beat Northwest,” Groth said. “I think it gives all of us a boost of confidence. Let’s go see what we can do.”
Here are the match-by-match results from Thursday’s meet:
Southeast Polk 58, Ankeny Centennial 14
190: D. Dhabolt (AC) pinned Thompson, 1:53; 215: Hansen pinned Hauser, :12; 285: Sleh won by technical fall over C. Sloan, 17-2; 106: Woody won by forfeit; 113: DeSalvo pinned Auge, :40; 120: Vandermark (AC) beat Prine, 10-6; 126: Riggins pinned W. Sloan, 1:13; 132: Lawson won by technical fall over Brennan, 17-2; 138: Oberbroeckling beat Sodergren, 12-8; 144: Jesuroga pinned Bennett, 1:07; 150: Bruhl (AC) won by technical fall over Arafa, 22-5; 157: Biladeau won by injury default over M. Dhabolt; 165: Bushong won by technical fall over Anonson, 17-1; 175: Gibson beat Smith, 10-2.