‘We’re heading in right direction’: Hawks top Centennial for 2nd consecutive year

Ankeny’s Ben Walsh works for a fall against Ankeny Centennial’s Isaac Mueller during the 126-pound match in Thursday’s dual meet at Centennial. Walsh got a pin in 52 seconds in his season debut to help the Hawks to a 40-28 victory. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

With two of their stalwarts back in the lineup, the Ankeny wrestlers defeated their crosstown rival for the second consecutive year.

The Hawks traveled across town to Ankeny Centennial on Thursday and posted a 40-28 victory, getting a pair of pins from returning state placewinners Ben Walsh and Calvin Rathjen.

“It was nice having both Ben and Calvin back in the lineup,” said Ankeny assistant coach Austin Anderson. “We were missing Kash (Johnson), and he’ll be back soon. Ultimately, we’ve just got to get guys healthy and down at the right weight. But we’re heading in the right direction.”

Ankeny’s Calvin Rathjen tries to finish off a pin during his 165-pound match against Ankeny Centennial’s Dean Landis at Thursday’s dual meet. Rathjen got a fall in 2 minutes 59 seconds in his season debut. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

Walsh and Rathjen did not compete last week when Ankeny opened the season with a 37-31 loss to Valley. They also sat out the Dan Gable Donnybrook at Coralville.

On Thursday, the fifth-ranked Walsh made his season debut at 126 pounds, where he pinned Isaac Mueller in 52 seconds. The No. 2 Rathjen later got a fall over Dean Landis in 2:59 at 165.

“Last week was a tough one, and really the message to our guys was that we’ve just got to keep getting better each and every day,” Anderson said. “I thought we wrestled really well tonight.”

Ankeny Centennial’s Cale Vandermark works for a takedown against Ankeny’s Aiden Winkie during the 138-pound match at Thursday’s meet. Vandermark posted a 10-3 decision in his season debut for the Jaguars. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

Like Ankeny, the Jaguars are still trying to put their best lineup together. Returning state placewinners Cale Vandermark and Ethan Sodergren returned to the mat on Thursday and recorded victories, but Centennial was still without defending state champion Max Dhabolt and Brandon Bogseth.

“It was a great meet. Both teams fought hard,” said Centennial coach Jay Groth. “We didn’t have Max or Brandon so that hurt a little bit, but I was pleased with our fight and our effort. We’re just so young–we have so many young kids in the lineup right now. They’re getting better and they’re figuring things out and buying what we’re trying to do, so I’m pleased with that.”

Vandermark–who is ranked No. 1 at 126–moved up to 138 and posted a 10-3 decision over No. 5 Aiden Winkie, a two-time state qualifier. The No. 3 Sodergren pinned Harrison Folkers in 3:08 at 150.

Ankeny Centennial’s Ethan Sodergren works for a fall against Ankeny’s Harrison Folkers during the 150-pound match at Thursday’s meet. Sodergren got a pin in 3 minutes 8 seconds in his season debut. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

“Both of those guys wrestled well,” Groth said. “Cale bumped up two weight classes and beat Winkie, who’s a really good wrestler. We wanted bonus points and didn’t get them, but it was good to get him back in the lineup. He’ll be our 126-pounder eventually.”

Sodergren’s fall gave Centennial a 19-18 lead after eight matches before Ankeny moved ahead for good on a major decision by Gavyn Gatewood at 157. The Hawks eventually sealed the win with back-to-back pins by Ryleigh Egeberg at 190 and Ryne Dobson at 215 in a combined 48 seconds.

“We kind of knew how things were going to shake out,” Anderson said. “I think Centennial did a little moving around, and we kind of knew that going in. But we wrestled our lineup straight through, and I’m happy with how our guys competed tonight.”

The arm of Ankeny’s Noah Kauffman is raised by the referee after he recorded a technical fall over Ankeny Centennial’s Will Sloan, 21-5, in the 144-pound match at Thursday’s meet. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

Ankeny also got a technical fall from Noah Kauffman at 144 and a major decision from Eddie Salgado at 113. Caleb Alhussaini won by a decision at 132.

The Jaguars got pins from Ethan Hand at 120 and Ben Rotert at 175, while Brenden Harless recorded a major decision at 106. Heavyweight Dirk Winkel won by a decision to close out the meet.

The Hawks evened their record at 1-1 in the CIML Conference. Eighth-ranked Centennial dropped to 0-2.

Ankeny Centennial’s Ben Rotert celebrates after recording a pin over Ankeny’s Jack Reysack in the 175-pound match at Thursday’s meet. Rotert got the fall in 5 minutes 44 seconds. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

“Obviously, we want to win every meet, so I’m not happy (about the loss),” Groth said. “But we fought hard. It’s early still, and we’ll have more important meets coming up in January and February.”

Groth said he’s not in any hurry to get the top-ranked Dhabolt back on the mat.

“He’s a little banged up,” Groth said. “I don’t think it’s anything we have to worry about long term. But we’re going to get him healthy.”

Ankeny Centennial coach Jay Groth watches as Brenden Harless battles Ankeny’s Lucas Haase in the 106-pound match to open Thursday’s meet. Harless went on to post a 15-6 major decision for the Jaguars, who again competed without defending state champion Max Dhabolt (second from left above). (Photo by Evan Reiter)

Both Ankeny and Centennial will compete in the Frank Baltzley Invitational on Saturday at Johnston.

Here are the match-by-match results from Thursday’s meet:

Ankeny 40, Ankeny Centennial 28

106: Harless (AC) beat Haase, 15-6; 113: Salgado (A) beat Moeckly, 11-0; 120: Hand (AC) pinned Burch, 1:32; 126: Walsh (A) pinned Mueller, :52; 132: Alhussaini (A) beat Brennan, 11-6; 138: Vandermark (AC) beat Winkie, 10-3; 144: Kauffman (A) won by technical fall over Sloan, 21-5; 150: Sodergren (AC) pinned Folkers, 3:08; 157: Gatewood (A) beat Conley, 15-6; 165: Rathjen (A) pinned Landis, 2:59; 175: Rotert (AC) pinned Reysack, 5:44; 190: Egeberg (A) pinned Schroder, :31; 215: Dobson (A) pinned Luckow, :17; 285: Winkel (AC) beat Hearne, 12-8.