The Iola High wrestling team hosted Osawatomie and West Elk in their final home meet of the season on Thursday.
The Mustangs earned second place after defeating West Elk but falling to Osawatomie. Competing for Iola were Trapper Boren, Griffin Westervelt, Xander Sellman, Korbin Cloud, Isaac Hopkins and Wyatt Westervelt.
“It means a lot to get these matches in,” said Jason Bates, Iola head coach. Going up against new competition provides the athletes with “a different look. Different expectations. The more experience we get, the better off we’ll be down the road.”
Iola first knocked off West Elk, 30-24.
Korbin Cloud defeated Nolan Denton on a fall in 1:19 while Westervelt flung down Edward Metcalf in a 46-second fall.
Boren received a bye in the 106-pound weight class. Sellman received a bye in the 132-pound weight class and Hopkins received a bye in the 150-pound weight class.
“All week we’ve been talking about that confidence and that’s confidence in our shots,” said Bates. “Wyatt went out there looking for a shot and he hit it and got a takedown and finished the match off. That’s exactly what we’re looking for. Korbin was trying some new moves.”
The Mustangs lost to Osawatomie, 36-18.
Boren, G. Westervelt and Cloud each received byes against the Trojans. Sellman lost to Parker Slayman in a 3:43 fall before W. Westervelt got taken down by Seth Carrow in a 1:24 fall.
G. Westervelt then competed in an exhibition matchup with Dayne Ogden and got taken down in a one-minute fall.
“It’s always nice to see the growth from our new wrestlers, as well as our older wrestlers,” Bates said. “Some of our younger wrestlers who haven’t had success see what they’re doing wrong and the things they are doing right.”
Iola now gears up for their league meet next Thursday, Feb. 9.
