Raiders were 19-0 at the holiday break; Anamosa’s Austin Scranton with big day at Osage; West Liberty rolls
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Williamsburg’s strong first half didn’t go unnoticed.
The results placed the Raiders in an unfamiliar position.
Williamsburg opened the New Year atop Class 2A of the Iowa High School Athletic Association rankings released on Jan. 2. The poll will determine the regional duals field and will be considered for postseason pairings.
The Raiders haven’t addressed the honor.
“If your kids get into it too much or people look at that, it can be a double-edged sword,” Williamsburg Coach Grant Eckenrod said. “We’ve always been the team hunting everybody and this does put a target on our back.
“We’re not worried about that too much. We’re just going to do our thing and continue to battle. Do what we can.”
The Raiders have ripped through opponents, entering Thursday’s double-dual with Vinton-Shellsburg and No. 5 West Delaware. They have wins over No. 8 Mount Vernon, No. 9 Benton Community and No. 20 Solon. Williamsburg benefitted from a fresh, healthy squad to open the season.
“We have so much wrestling to do,” said Eckenrod, who ranks second in state history with 673 career dual wins including 474 at Willaimsburg. “We have to get through the Wamac and all these tough teams. We got off to a good start and anything can happen.”
Williamsburg has infused a group of hard-working and talented freshmen. They have been diehard wrestlers, instead of athletes who wrestle. Eckenrod said four have already contributed to the varsity lineup and the entire group has been outstanding thus far.
“They practice as hard as any groups I’ve ever had,” said Eckenrod. “They’re great kids. They listen. It’s been an awesome class.”
Riker DeWitt is 18-1 and Charlie Foster is 16-3 alternating between 106 and 113. Hayden Albaugh (126) is also 16-3, while 165-pound Brady Grier is 14-4.
Eckenrod praised the youngsters’ parents and kids’ club coaches for their development, devoting time and resources for taking them wherever to pursue competition.
“They’ve put in time wrestling,” Eckenrod said. “It’s made a huge difference.”
Veteran wrestlers like state medalist Nile Sinn and Lincoln Schropp have led the way on and off the mat. They both own 18-1 records and are tied with a team-high nine pins. Upper weight Wyatt Wolter has emerged as a leader, encouraging teammates to stick around after practice for extra work.
“I’ve been pleased with all of our senior group as well,” Eckenrod said. “It’s been a perfect mix of kids from top to bottom.”
Interestingly, Williamsburg is one of six Wamac Conference teams in the rankings. Eckenrod said you can’t run from challenges but it readies you for the most important part of the season.
“We know we have to strap that headgear on tight every Thursday,” Eckenrod said. “The records don’t matter. We know we’re going to get a battle. It gets you prepared for the postseason and that’s why I love the Wamac.”
SCRANTON AVENGES LONE LOSS
Anamosa state champion Austin Scranton avenged his lone loss of the season Saturday, winning the 190-pound title at the Osage Invitational. Third-ranked Scranton scored a third-period escape in a 1-0 decision over Benton’s No. 2 Brenden Heying in the finals. It came on the heels of Scranton’s 6-5 semifinal win over Humboldt’s top-ranked Broedy Hendricks.
Scranton avenged a 2-1 loss to Heying in the final of West Delaware’s Bob Murphy Invitational the first weekend of December. Scranton (20-1) and Heying (19-1) will compete in Benton’s Bobcat Jerry Eckenrod Invitational on Saturday.
WEST LIBERTY KEEPS ROLLING
West Liberty remain undefeated in duals, improving to 13-0 this season with three victories Saturday at home. The Comets swept the quadrangular, beating Cedar Rapids Jefferson (50-21), Des Moines Roosevelt (78-0) and Midland (65-18).
West Liberty won 34 of 41 weights competed, claiming at least 10 weights in each dual. The Comets have ascended to No. 15 in the IHSAA dual rankings.
Jefferson finished 2-1 Saturday, beating Roosevelt and Midland.
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